Image capturing system, image capturing device, and image capturing method

ABSTRACT

To enable satisfactory simultaneous and widely varied pictures to be obtained, for example, by allowing a common user to obtain an overall picture while the common user performing desired image capturing, or the like. A first image capturing device image-captures a subject to record this image, and also transmits a trigger signal to a second image capturing device. The second image capturing device image-captures an image to record this image in accordance with the trigger signal. Thus, the first and second image capturing devices enable both of an overall image and a zoomed image to be obtained with simultaneous timing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image capturing system, imagecapturing device, and image capturing method, whereby, for example,image-captured pictures suitable for a common user can be obtained.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, for example, small video cameras for recordingimage-captured pictures in disc media or tape media have been widelyused, thereby providing a situation wherein a user can readily performvideo shooting for enjoyment.

For example, many people perform image capturing using video cameras atathletic meets, various types of events, amusement parks, holidayresorts, and so forth.

Also, as the environment in which a common user can readily enjoy stillimages and moving-images picture at home or the like is being developed,various types of services such as distribution services of moving imagesand still images, shooting services at amusement parks, and so forth,have been proposed or realized. For example, with Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2001-148822, technology forperforming a shooting service has been disclosed.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Incidentally, when actually performing image capturing using a videocamera or still camera, there are many cases wherein a user wants toperform image capturing by concentrating on or zooming in on aparticular object.

For example, with a field day at an elementary school or the like, it iscommon for a person to perform image capturing centered on his/herchild, and particularly during a competition, such a person is apt toperform image capturing by pursuing only his/her child in a zoomed-instate. Of course, the pictures thus taken are valuable to that personand family thereof and so forth, but it is sometimes difficult tounderstand the overall competition.

On the other hand, when image-capturing the entire competition with along shot, the person cannot capture his/her child in a zoomed-in state,and accordingly, this picture is often not valuable to theimage-capturing person and others.

Further, in the event of capturing a moving-image picture using a videocamera, the image-capturing person frequently performs zooming-in/outoperations to obtain both the zoomed-in image of his/her child and theoverall picture in some cases, but in this case, the obtained picturemay sometimes be an unsettled picture which is uncomfortable to watch,or the image-capturing person loses sight of his/her child's positionwhen capturing the picture of the overall competition, resulting inunsatisfactory image capturing.

Also, there has been demand for a capability wherein, in the event ofcapturing a zoomed-in image of his/her child at the time of a certainphoto opportunity using a still camera, the overall image can beobtained at the same timing.

The above case is one example, but when a common user actually performsimage capturing using a still camera or video camera, there are manycases wherein the user wants to capture both of the overall picture anda zoomed-in image (moving or still image), but usually the user cannotreadily perform such image capturing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention for a common userto obtain the overall picture while performing desired image capturing,and consequently to obtain a satisfactory picture.

The image capturing system according to Claims 1 through 16 of thepresent invention is an image capturing system made up of a first imagecapturing device and a second image capturing device.

The first image capturing device is an image capturing device forperforming recording of an image-captured image, and also transmitting atrigger signal for instructing image capturing or recording of animage-captured image as to the second image capturing device at the sametiming.

The second image capturing device is an image capturing device forperforming image capturing and recording of an image-captured image inresponse to receiving a trigger signal from the first image capturingdevice.

That is to say, the image capturing system according to the presentinvention comprises first image-capturing recording means for performingimage capturing to record an image, transmission means for transmittinga trigger signal to the second image capturing device, and first controlmeans for controlling recording of an image-captured image at the firstimage-capturing recording means, and transmission of a trigger signalfrom the transmission means.

Also, the second image capturing device comprises second image-capturingrecording means for performing image capturing to record an image,reception means for receiving a trigger signal from the first imagecapturing device, and second control means for controlling the secondimage-capturing recording means to execute at least image capturing orrecording of an image-captured image in response to receiving a triggersignal at the reception means.

Also, the first image capturing device further comprises identifyinginformation storing means for storing apparatus identifying information,and meta-data generating means for generating meta data, and the firstcontrol means control the transmission means to transmit the apparatusidentifying information and meta data along with the trigger signal.

The second control means control the second image-capturing recordingmeans to execute recording of the apparatus identifying information andmeta data received at the reception means along with image-capturedimage thereof at the time of controlling the second image-capturingrecording means to execute recording of an image-captured image based ona trigger signal received at the reception means.

The second image capturing device further comprises meta-data generatingmeans for generating meta data, and the second control means control thesecond image-capturing recording means to execute recording of the metadata generated at the meta-data generating means along withimage-captured image thereof at the time of controlling the secondimage-capturing recording means to execute recording of animage-captured image based on a trigger signal received at the receptionmeans.

Also, the first control means control the first image-capturingrecording means to execute recording of an image-captured image, andcontrol the transmission means to execute transmission of a triggersignal, following which control the transmission means to transmit theimage-captured image recorded at the first image-capturing recordingmeans. In this case, the second control means control the secondimage-capturing recording means to record the image-captured imagereceived at the reception means.

Also, in the event that the first image capturing device thus transmitsan image-captured image to the second image capturing device, therespective image capturing devices also record meta data at the time ofrecording of the image-captured image. Subsequently, the first imagecapturing device transmits meta data to the second image capturingdevice along with an image-captured image, and the second imagecapturing device collates the transmitted meta data with the recordedmeta data to determine corresponding relation, and records thetransmitted image-captured image so as to associate this with a certainparticular image-captured image recorded.

Also, the first image-capturing recording means are configured so as torecord image-captured images as still images, and the first controlmeans control the first image-capturing recording means to performstill-image recording of an image-captured image, and control thetransmission means to execute transmission of a trigger signal, with thetiming specified by an operation or an operation program.

Alternately, the first image-capturing recording means are configured soas to record image-captured images as moving images, and the firstcontrol means control the first image-capturing recording means toexecute moving-image recording of an image-captured image during theperiod specified by a first operation, and also control the transmissionmeans to transmit a trigger signal with the timing specified by a secondoperation or an operation program.

Alternately, the first image-capturing recording means are configured soas to record image-captured images as moving and still images, and thefirst control means control the first image-capturing recording means toexecute moving-image recording of an image-captured image during theperiod specified by a first operation, and also control the firstimage-capturing recording means to execute still-image recording of animage-captured image and control the transmission means to transmit atrigger signal with the timing specified by a second operation or anoperation program.

Also, the second image-capturing recording means are configured so as torecord image-captured images as still images, and the second controlmeans control the second image-capturing recording means to executestill-image recording of an image-captured image in response toreceiving a trigger signal at the reception means.

Alternately, the second image-capturing recording means are configuredso as to record image-captured images as moving images, and the secondcontrol means control the second image-capturing recording means toexecute moving-image recording of an image-captured image in response toreceiving a trigger signal at the reception means.

Alternately, the second image-capturing recording means are configuredso as to record image-captured images as moving and still images, andthe second control means control the second image-capturing recordingmeans to execute moving-image recording of an image-captured imageduring the period specified by an operation, and also control the secondimage-capturing recording means to execute still-image recording of animage-captured image in response to receiving a trigger signal at thereception means.

Also, the first control means transmit a standby instruction prior totransmitting a trigger signal from the transmission means, and thesecond control means control the second image-capturing recording meansto stand by in a recordable state in response to receiving a standbyinstruction at the reception means.

The image capturing device according to Claims 17 through 28 of thepresent invention is an image capturing device serving as a first imagecapturing device according to the above image capturing system.

The image capturing device according to Claims 29 through 41 of thepresent invention is an image capturing device serving as a second imagecapturing device according to the above image capturing system.

The image capturing method according to Claims 42 through 47 of thepresent invention is an image capturing method to be executed in thefirst image capturing device according to the above image capturingsystem.

That is to say, an image capturing method of an image capturing devicefor recording still images or moving images as the image-captured imagesof a subject, comprises an image-capturing step for executing recordingof an image-captured image with the timing specified by an operation oroperation program, and a trigger transmitting step for transmitting atrigger signal for instructing image capturing or recording of animage-captured image to an external device with that timing.

Also, in the trigger transmitting step, the apparatus identifyinginformation of the image-capturing device, and the meta data generatedat the image capturing device are transmitted along with the triggersignal.

Further, the image capturing method further comprises an imagetransmitting step for transmitting the image-captured image recorded inthe image-capturing recording step.

In the image-capturing recording step, recording of the meta datagenerated at the image capturing device is performed so as to associatethe meta data with an image-captured image, and the method furthercomprises an image transmitting step for transmitting the image-capturedimage and meta data recorded in the image-capturing recording step.

The image capturing method further comprises a standby instructiontransmitting step for transmitting a standby instruction for instructingpreparation for image capturing or preparation for recording of animage-captured image as to an external device prior to the timing forexecuting the image-capturing recording step and the triggertransmitting step.

The image capturing method according to Claims 48 through 54 of thepresent invention is an image capturing method to be executed in thesecond image capturing device according to the above image capturingsystem.

That is to say, an image capturing method of an image capturing devicefor recording still images or moving images as the image-captured imagesof a subject, comprises a trigger receiving step for receiving a triggersignal transmitted from an external device, and an image-capturingrecording step for executing image capturing or recording of animage-captured image in response to receiving a trigger signal in thereceiving step.

Also, in the receiving step, the apparatus identifying information andmeta data transmitted from the external device is received along with atrigger signal, and also in the image-capturing recording step, thereceived apparatus identifying information and meta data is recordedalong with an image-captured image.

Also, in the image-capturing recording step, recording of the meta datagenerated at the image capturing device is executed so as to beassociated with an image-captured image.

Also, the image capturing method further comprises an image receivingstep for receiving an image-captured image to be transmitted from theexternal device; and a receiving image recording step for recording theimage-captured image received in the image receiving step.

Also, in the image-capturing recording step, recording of the meta datagenerated at the image capturing device so as to be associated with animage-captured image is executed. The image capturing method furthercomprises an image receiving step for receiving the image-captured imageand meta data to be transmitted from the external device, a collatingstep for collating the meta data received in the image receiving stepwith the meta data recorded in the image-capturing recording step, and areceived-image recording step for recording the image-captured imagereceived in the receiving step so as to be associated with theparticular image-captured image recorded in the image-capturingrecording step based on the collation result in the collating step.

Also, the image capturing method further comprises a standby-instructionreceiving step for receiving a standby instruction to be transmittedfrom the external device, and a recording preparation step forperforming recording preparation for an image-captured image in responseto receiving the standby instruction.

According to the present invention as described above, the first imagecapturing device image-captures and records the zoomed-in image of asubject, or the overall image in a range including the subject.Subsequently, the first image capturing device transmits a triggersignal to the second image capturing device at the time of imagecapturing/recording thereof. The second image capturing deviceimage-captures and records the overall image or the zoomed-in image inresponse to receiving the trigger signal. Then, the first and secondimage capturing devices enable both of the overall image and thezoomed-in image to be obtained at the same timing.

For example, let us say that one of the first and second image capturingdevices is a still camera or video camera possessed by a common user,and the other is a still camera or video camera installed by a servicedealer. For example, if we say that the camera possessed by a user isthe first image capturing device, as long as the user arbitrarilycaptures desired images, the overall image at the same timing as thoseimages is image-captured/recorded by the second image capturing deviceat the dealer side, and consequently, the user can obtain both of theimages.

According to the present invention, image capturing/recording of a stillimage or moving image is performed at the first image capturing device,whereby the still image or moving image at the same timing thereof orthe same time zone thereof can be image-captured/recorded at the secondimage capturing device. Accordingly, the zoomed-in image of a certainsubject can be obtained at one of the first and second image capturingdevices, and the image wherein the overall including the subject isimage-captured can be obtained at the other. Of course, regardless of anoverall image and zoomed-in image, the images wherein the first andsecond image capturing devices capture a particular subject with adifferent angle simultaneously can be obtained.

A user employs such an image capturing system, whereby the user caneasily obtain various types of image-captured images.

For example, as long as a user possessing the first image capturingdevice image-captures the desired images of a subject such as his/herchild or the like at an athletic meet or the like concentrating on thedesired images, there is no need to take the overall image intoconsideration. This is because the overall image is image-captured bythe second image capturing device prepared by a service dealer.Moreover, the overall image recorded at the second image capturingdevice side is an image synchronized with the above user's arbitraryshutter timing, whereby the user can obtain the image-captured image atthe desired timing. The user ultimately obtains an image recorded at thesecond image capturing device side, whereby the user can obtain asatisfactory image-captured image along with the image image-captured byhimself/herself.

Also, in the event of a common user side possessing the second imagecapturing device, image capturing/recording is performed by a triggerfrom the first image capturing device at the service dealer side. Thisallows the common user side to execute appropriate image capturing inthe event of the service dealer side understanding appropriate shuttertiming, and also this case can ultimately provide simultaneous variousimages to the user.

It is needless to say that the image capturing system according to thepresent invention (first and second image capturing devices) are notrestricted to those used by a common user and a service dealer, forexample, even if the first and second image capturing devices are usedby common users, various and satisfactory images can be obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an image capturing system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the secondembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of processing according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the fourthembodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of processing according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of processing according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the sixthembodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of processing according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the seventhembodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of processing according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the eighthembodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of processing according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the ninthembodiment.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram of a system example of the commoncamera and local camera according to the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of a system example of the commoncamera and local camera according to the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a system example of the commoncamera and local camera according to the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto an eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of processing according to the eleventhembodiment.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the eleventhembodiment.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a twelfth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of processing according to the twelfthembodiment.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with the twelfthembodiment.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a thirteenth embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart of processing according to the thirteenthembodiment.

FIG. 38 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with thethirteenth embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a fourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart of processing according to the fourteenthembodiment.

FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with thefourteenth embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a fifteenth embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart of processing according to the fifteenthembodiment.

FIG. 44 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with thefifteenth embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a sixteenth embodiment.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart of processing according to the sixteenthembodiment.

FIG. 47 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with thesixteenth embodiment.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart of processing according to a seventeenthembodiment.

FIG. 49 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with theseventeenth embodiment.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart of processing according to an eighteenthembodiment.

FIG. 51 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with theeighteenth embodiment.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart of processing according to a nineteenthembodiment.

FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram of an image recorded with thenineteenth embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a block diagram of a common camera and local camera accordingto a twentieth embodiment.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart of processing according to a twenty firstembodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereafter, for example, assuming that still cameras, video cameras, andso forth employed by general users are local cameras, and a cameramaking up a system in collaboration with the local cameras is a commoncamera, embodiments of the present invention will be described in thefollowing sequence using a system made up of the local cameras and thecommon camera as an example.

1. System overview using common cameras and local cameras2. Embodiments for performing trigger transmission from local cameras

2-1. First embodiment

2-2. Second embodiment

2-3. Third embodiment

2-4. Fourth embodiment

2-5. Fifth embodiment

2-6. Sixth embodiment

2-7. Seventh embodiment

2-8. Eighth embodiment

2-9. Ninth embodiment

2-10. Tenth embodiment

2-11. System pattern examples of local cameras and common cameras

3. Embodiments for performing trigger transmission from common cameras

3-1. Eleventh embodiment

3-2. Twelfth embodiment

3-3. Thirteenth embodiment

3-4. Fourteenth embodiment

3-5. Fifteenth embodiment

3-6. Sixteenth embodiment

3-7. Seventeenth embodiment

3-8. Eighteenth embodiment

3-9. Nineteenth embodiment

3-10. Twentieth embodiment

3-11. Standby instruction to be applied to Eleventh through Twentiethembodiments

3-12. System pattern examples of local cameras and common cameras

4. Modifications 1. Image Capturing System Overview Using Common Camerasand Local Cameras

FIG. 1 illustrates an example employing an image capturing systemaccording to the present example. The image capturing system accordingto the present example comprises, for example, a common camera 2 servingas an image capturing device to be installed at an athletic meet, anevent site, or the like by a service dealer, and a local camera 1serving as an image capturing device with which a user performs imagecapturing by himself or herself.

As for a local camera 1, a still camera 1 s for performing imagecapturing of still images, a video camera 1 v for performing imagecapturing of moving images (sometimes including a still-image imagecapturing function), and further a silver-salt camera 1 f for subjectinga silver-salt film to image capturing (photography) can be employed.

As for a common camera 2, a still camera 2 s for performing imagecapturing of still images, and a video camera 2 v for performing imagecapturing of moving images (sometimes including a still-image imagecapturing function) can be employed.

Hereinafter, let us say that description as “local camera 1 s” indicatesthat the local camera thereof is a still camera, and also “local camera1 v” and “local camera 1 f” indicate that the local camera thereof is avideo camera or silver-salt camera.

Similarly, let us say that the descriptions “common camera 2 s” and“common camera 2 v” indicate that the respective common cameras are astill camera, and a video camera, respectively.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wherein a user is performing imagecapturing using his/her own local camera 1 (1 s, 1 v, or 1 f)arbitrarily. For example, this is, in a state in which his/her own childis zoomed in, image capturing such as pursuing action of the child. Thatis to say, this is image capturing which a common user usually performs.

Note that let us say that pictures to be subjected to imagecapturing/recording at the local camera 1 are “local pictures”.

On the other hand, the common camera 2 (2 s or 2 v) is installed at apredetermined location of a school where this athletic meet is held,e.g., such as within the schoolhouse, the rooftop, or the like, at aplace where a bird's eye view of the overall competition performed at anathletic field can be image-captured.

With this common camera 2, for example, the pictures of the overallcompetition are image-captured. Let us say that the imagesimage-captured/recorded at the common camera side are referred to as“common images”.

Let us say that between the local camera 1 and the common camera 2 iscommunicable. Details thereof will be described later as respectiveembodiments, but for example, a trigger signal is transmitted from thelocal camera 1 to the common camera 2.

The local camera 1 performs image capturing of a local image in responseto the shutter operation of the user, records this in recording media,and also transmits a trigger signal.

The common camera 2 performs image capturing of a common image inresponse to receiving the trigger signal, and records this in recordingmedia.

Then, in this case, let us say that the local image of an arbitrarysubject selected by the user (e.g., his/her own child) is recorded inthe recording media at the local camera 1 side, and the common image ofa subject (e.g., overall competition) is recorded in the recording mediaat the common camera 2 side at the timing when the user performs imagecapturing of a local image.

That is to say, from the perspective of the user, upon continuing imagecapturing of his/her own child at the athletic meet for example, imagecapturing of the images of the overall competition are performed at thecommon camera 2 side at the timing when the user performs imagecapturing thereof. Accordingly, the user can obtain a different image(e.g., overall image, different-angle image, etc.) at the shutter timingdetermined by himself/herself by obtaining the common image recorded atthe common camera 2 side later, whereby various images which arebeneficial to the user can be readily obtained.

Also, though described later, an arrangement may be made wherein thecommon camera 2 side transmits a trigger signal to the local camera 1.At attractions such as at an event, theme park, or the like, the servicedealer side may know the appropriate shutter timing beforehand in somecases.

In this case, the common camera 2 side performs imagecapturing/recording of an image at appropriate timing, and alsotransmits a trigger signal to the local camera 1. Thus, for example, theoverall common image, and the local image arbitrarily selected by theuser side can be obtained at the most appropriate shutter timing. Inthis case as well, a common image at the common camera 2 side isprovided to the user, whereby the user can obtain various satisfactoryimages.

2. Embodiments for Performing Trigger Transmission from Local Cameras

2-1. First Embodiment

Hereafter, the first through tenth embodiments are examples assumingthat the local camera 1 is the first image capturing device described inthe Claims of the present invention, and the common camera 2 is thesecond image capturing device.

The first embodiment is an example assuming that the local camera 1 andthe common camera 2 are all still cameras, which will be described withreference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates the configurations of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s, according to the first embodiment.

The local camera 1 s is provided with a local control unit 10, atransmission unit 11, an antenna 12, an image capturing unit 13, animage-capturing signal processing unit 14, a recording playback unit 15,a display processing unit 16, a display unit 17, and a shutter switch18. Note that though not illustrated in the drawing, configurationsusually necessary for a still camera other than those are included.

The local control unit 10 is made up of a micro computer, and performscontrol of the respective units within the local camera 1 s based on anoperation program held in internal memory. The dotted-line arrowillustrates supply of a control signal to the respective units by thelocal control unit 10.

For example, the local control unit 10 gives an operation instructionnecessary for each of the respective units in response to a power on/offoperation, zoom in/out operation, display mode operation, and playbackoperation by unshown operators, a shutter operation by the shutterswitch 18, or the like.

The image capturing unit 13 includes a lens system made up of an imagecapturing lens, a zoom lens, a diaphragm, and so forth, and a drivingsystem for driving a focusing operation and zooming operation as to thelens system. Also, the image capturing unit 13 includes a CCD (ChargeCoupled Device) sensor array or CMOS sensor array serving as an imagecapturing device for detecting the image capturing light obtained at thelens system, and generating an image capturing signal by performingphotoelectric conversion. Also, the image capturing unit 13 includes avertical/horizontal scan circuit for reading out a pixel signal from theimage capturing device unit, a sample-and-hold/AGC (Automatic GainControl) circuit for subjecting the signal read out from the imagecapturing device unit to gain adjustment and waveform shaping, an A/Dconverter, and so forth. The image capturing unit 13 outputs digitalimage data as an image signal wherein a subject is image-captured bythose configurations.

The readout operation of an image capturing signal, the focus/zoomdriving system operation, signal processing, and so forth, at the imagecapturing unit 13 are controlled by the local control unit 10 inresponse to a user operation and so forth.

The image-capturing signal processing unit 14 subjects theimage-captured image signal to be output from the image capturing unit13 to various types of signal processing. For example, theimage-capturing signal processing unit 14 performs white balanceadjustment, clamp processing, correction processing, luminanceprocessing, color difference processing, and so forth.

Further, the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 subjects animage-captured image signal to compression encoding processing andformat processing, generates an image signal (local image VL) to berecorded in the recording media 19 at the recording playback unit 15,and generates an image signal to be displayed at the display unit 17.

As for compression encoding processing, for example, MPEG (MovingPicture Experts Group) method, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)method, or other compression method is performed.

Also, in this case, the local camera 1 s is a still camera, so theimage-capturing signal processing unit 14 supplies, of moving-imagesignals (continuous frame image signals) obtained at the image capturingunit 13, a frame image signal at the timing based on the control of thelocal control unit 10, i.e., at the timing wherein the shutter switch 18is pressed to the recording playback unit 15.

Also, at the point of the user searching or aiming at a subject, theuser confirms the situation of the subject using the display unit 17such as a view finder, liquid crystal panel, or the like, and therefore,the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 supplies an image signalas a moving image to the display processing unit 16.

The recording playback unit 15 performs processing for recording thelocal image VL from the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 in therecording media 19 based on the control of the local control unit 10.Recording of an image-captured image is performed in response to theshutter operation by the user. In response to the shutter switch 18being pressed by the user, the local control unit 10 controls therecording playback unit 15 to execute recording of the local image VL inthe recording media 19.

As for the recording media 19, for example, a recording medium havingportability such as a detachable memory card built in a solid memory,optical disc, magneto-optical disk, magnetic disk, magnetic tape, and soforth, or a recording medium fixedly disposed within the device such asbuilt-in solid memory, hard disk (HDD), and so forth may be employed.

The recording playback unit 15 records the local image VL andinformation attached thereto in the recording media 19 so as tocorrespond to the media type employed for the recording media 19, andalso includes a mechanism and circuits for playback.

For example, in the event that the recording media 19 is a diskrecording medium, the recording playback unit 15 includes a drivingsystem such as an insertion/ejection mechanism, recording playback head,spindle motor, and so forth corresponding to a disk media 90 forexample, a servo system, and so forth. Also, in the event that therecording media 19 is a medium such as a memory card or the like, therecording playback unit 15 includes a connection mechanism (card slot,etc.), and an access and interface circuit system, as to a memory card.

Also, the recording playback unit 15 performs playback of the localimage VL recorded in the recording media 19 based on the control of thelocal control unit 10. Subsequently, the recording playback unit 15supplies the played local image VL to the display processing unit 16.

The display processing unit 16 subjects the recording format of theplayed local image VL to decoding processing, error correctionprocessing, decompression processing, and so forth, and also subjectsthe played local image VL to luminance/color signal processing, RGBprocessing, gain adjustment, and so forth for display, and supplies thelocal image VL to the display unit 17.

The display unit 17 is a display unit provided in the local camera 1 sas a view finder type or liquid crystal panel type or the like, and is adisplay unit for allowing the user to perform monitoring of a subjectbeing image-captured, and monitoring of a playback picture.

In the event that the local camera 1 s is set to an image capturingmode, the moving data of the subject from the image-capturing signalprocessing unit 14 is processed at the display processing unit 16, andis displayed on the display unit 17.

In the event that the local camera 1 s is set to a playback mode, thestill-image image data played back at the recording playback unit 15 isprocessed at the display processing unit 16, and is displayed on thedisplay unit 17.

The transmission unit 11 and antenna 12 wirelessly transmits data to anexternal device, particularly to the common camera 2 s based on thecontrol of the local control unit 10. In the case of the presentexample, the local control unit 10 controls the transmission unit 11 totransmit a trigger signal TG.

Note that though not shown in the drawing, it is reasonably anticipatedto provide various types of interface as to an external personalcomputer, audio/video apparatus, and other devices in the local camera 1s to enable image data and other various types of data to beinput/output.

The common camera 2 s includes a common control unit 30, an imagecapturing unit 31, an image-capturing signal processing unit 32, arecording playback unit 33, and a reception unit 34.

Note that those are illustrated as units which will be necessary so asto correspond to the later-described characteristic operation of thepresent example, but other than those, though not illustrated in thedrawing, the common camera 2 s also includes a monitor display unit oran operating unit to be provided as a normal still camera, and othernecessary configurations.

The common control unit 30 is made up of a micro computer, and performscontrol of the respective units within the common camera 2 s based onoperations by the unshown operating unit, and an operation program heldin the internal memory. The dotted-line arrow illustrates supply of acontrol signal to the respective units by the common control unit 30.

For example, the common control unit 30 gives a necessary operationinstruction to the respective units in response to an operation such asa power on/off operation, zoom in/out operation, display mode operation,playback operation, shutter operation, and so forth.

The image capturing unit 31 includes a lens system made up of an imagecapturing lens, a zoom lens, a diaphragm, and so forth, and a drivingsystem for driving a focusing operation and zooming operation as to thelens system. Also, the image capturing unit 31 includes a CCD (ChargeCoupled Device) sensor array or CMOS sensor array serving as an imagecapturing device for detecting the image capturing light obtained at thelens system, and generating an image capturing signal by performingphotoelectric conversion. Also, the image capturing unit 31 includes avertical/horizontal scan circuit for reading out a pixel signal from theimage capturing device unit, a sample-and-hold/AGC (Automatic GainControl) circuit for subjecting the signal read out from the imagecapturing device unit to gain adjustment and waveform shaping, an A/Dconverter, and so forth. The image capturing unit 31 outputs digitalimage data as an image signal wherein a subject is image-captured bythose configurations.

The readout operation of an image capturing signal, the focus/zoomdriving system operation, signal processing, and so forth, at the imagecapturing unit 31 are controlled by the common control unit 30 inresponse to a user operation and so forth.

The image-capturing signal processing unit 32 subjects theimage-captured image signal to be output from the image capturing unit31 to various types of signal processing. For example, theimage-capturing signal processing unit 32 performs white balanceadjustment, clamp processing, correction processing, luminanceprocessing, color difference processing, and so forth.

Further, the image-capturing signal processing unit 32 subjects animage-captured image signal to compression encoding processing andformat processing, generates an image signal (common image Vc) to berecorded in the recording media 36 at the recording playback unit 33,and generates an image signal to be displayed at an unshown displayunit.

As for compression encoding processing, for example, MPEG (MovingPicture Experts Group) method, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)method, or other compression method is performed.

Also, in this case, the common camera 2 s is a still camera, so theimage-capturing signal processing unit 32 supplies, of moving-imagesignals (continuous frame image signals) obtained at the image capturingunit 31, a frame image signal at the timing based on the control of thelocal control unit 30 to the recording playback unit 33. Thoughdescription will be made later, at the common camera 2 s side the commoncontrol unit 30 handles the timing when the trigger signal TG istransmitted from the local camera 1 s as shutter timing, and controlsthe image-capturing signal processing unit 32.

Note that as for a view finder, liquid crystal panel, and so forth, forexample, serving as an unshown display unit, the image-capturing signalprocessing unit 32 supplies an image signal as a moving image to thedisplay processing system of the display unit to monitor the situationof a subject.

The recording playback unit 33 performs processing for recording thecommon image Vc from the image-capturing signal processing unit 32 inthe recording media 36 based on the control of the common control unit30. Recording of an image-captured image is performed in response toreceiving of the trigger signal TG. That is to say, in response toreceiving of the trigger signal TG, the common control unit 30 controlsthe recording playback unit 33 to execute recording of the common imageVc in the recording media 36. Note that it is needless to say thatrecording can be performed in response to a shutter operation of anunshown operating unit.

As for the recording media 36, as with the case of the local camera 1 s,for example, a recording medium having portability such as a detachablememory card built in a solid memory, optical disc, magneto-optical disk,magnetic disk, magnetic tape, and so forth, or a recording mediumfixedly disposed within the device such as built-in solid memory, harddisk (HDD), and so forth may be employed.

The recording playback unit 33 records the common image Vc andinformation attached thereto in the recording media 36 so as tocorrespond to the media type employed for the recording media 36, andalso includes a mechanism and circuits for playback.

Also, the recording playback unit 33 supplies the image played back fromthe recording media 36 to the display processing system so as to displaythat image on the unshown display unit.

The reception unit 34 and antenna 35 are provided as a reception systemcorresponding to wireless transmission from the local camera 1 s. In thecase of the present example, the trigger signal TG is transmitted fromthe local camera 1 s, and the reception unit 34 and antenna 35 receivethis to supply this to the common control unit 30.

Note that it is reasonably anticipated to provide various types ofinterface as to an external personal computer, audio/video apparatus,and other devices in the common camera 2 s to enable image data andother various types of data to be input/output.

With such a local camera 1 s and common camera 2 s, the characteristicoperations of the present example will be described with reference toFIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates the processing in the case of recording animage-captured image as the processing of the local control unit 10 andthe processing of the common control unit 30. Note that the processingin FIG. 3 is performed in the case in which power is applied to both ofthe local camera 1 s and the common camera 2 s, and also is in a statein which image capturing (monitor display) of a subject is performed asthe image capturing mode (i.e. a state awaiting shutter timing).

Upon detecting operation of the shutter switch 18 by the user in stepF101, the local control unit 10 controls the transmission unit 11 totransmit a trigger signal TG in step F102.

Simultaneously, the local control unit 10 performs still-image recordingcontrol in step F103. That is to say, the local control unit 10 controlsthe image-capturing signal processing unit 14 and the recording playbackunit 15 to execute recording of an image-captured image (local image VL)at the shutter timing.

On the other hand, the common control unit 30 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received by the reception unit 34 as step F201, and uponthe trigger signal TG being received, the common control unit 30performs still-image recording control in step F202. That is to say, thecommon control unit 30 controls the image-capturing signal processingunit 32 and the recording playback unit 33 to execute recording of animage-captured image (common image Vc) at the trigger-received timing.

According to this processing, the user performs a shutter operation atthe local camera 1 s, whereby image capturing/recording of animage-captured image is performed at the common camera 2 s at the sametiming. That is to say, with the local camera 1 s and the common camera2 s, capturing/recording of an image-captured image is performed at thesame timing.

Now, let us say that with the local camera 1 s, the user aims at his/herown child as a subject at an athletic meet or the like, and a shutteroperation is performed at certain timing. On the other hand, the commoncamera 2 s side is always aiming at the overall athletic meet as asubject.

In this case, for example, when assuming that the user performed imagecapturing/recording of the local image VL such as FIG. 4( a) with thelocal camera 1 s, the common camera 2 s side records the overall sightof a competition such as FIG. 4( b) as the common image Vc, in responseto the trigger signal TG at the image capturing timing thereof.

That is to say, with the local camera 1 s, the sight personally selectedby the user is subjected to image capturing/recording as the local imageVL, and with the common camera 2 s, the overall sight at the same timingas the local image VL is subjected to image capturing/recording as thecommon image Vc.

FIG. 4( c) and (d) illustrate the recording states of the recordingmedia 19 within the recording playback unit 15 at the local camera 1 sside, and the recording media 36 within the recording playback unit 33at the common camera 2 s side. For example, let us say that asillustrated in FIG. 4( c), the user of the local camera 1 s performed ashutter operation at an arbitrary timing, thereby the local images VL1,VL2, and VL3 were recorded in the recording media 19.

In this case, a state at the common camera 2 s side becomes a state inwhich the common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3 are recorded in the recordingmedia 36. The common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3 become the images recordedat the same timing as the local images VL1, VL2, and VL3, respectively.

As described above, with the present example, for example, as long asthe user simply performs a shutter operation at an arbitrary timingusing the local camera 1 s to record an image-captured image, at thecommon camera 2 s side another image, for example, such as the image ofthe overall sight, a different-angle image, and so forth, i.e., theimage selected as a subject at the common camera 2 s side is recorded.

The user can obtain a various and satisfactory image by obtaining thecommon image Vc recorded at the common camera 2 s side using some sortof method.

For example, upon assuming that the common camera 2 s is installed by aservice dealer, it is only necessary for the user to purchase the commonimage Vc from the service dealer. Of course, if a common user alsopossesses the common camera 2 s, it is only necessary for the user toinstall the common camera 2 s by himself/herself, and execute imagecapturing/recording synchronously with the local camera 1 s.

2-2. Second Embodiment

Similarly, with an example wherein the local camera 1 and the commoncamera 2 are both still cameras, the second embodiment will be describedwith reference to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7.

Note that with the respective embodiments described below, the samereference numerals are appended to the same function portions as theabove described embodiment, and redundant description thereof will beavoided.

With the first embodiment, let us say that image capturing/recording ofthe common image Vc is executed at the common camera 2 s sidesynchronously with the local camera 1 s, and for example, it is onlynecessary for the user of the local camera 1 s to obtain the commonimage Vc with some kind of method later.

Here, in the event that the user of the local camera 1 s also possessesthe common camera 2 s as described above, the user can obtain the commonimage Vc without any problem.

Also, even in the event that a service dealer provides the common camera2 s, as long as a system is established with the one-on-one relation ofthe common camera 2 s and the local camera 1 s, the common images Vcrecorded at the common camera 2 s are all the imagesimage-captured/recorded synchronously with image capturing/recording atthe local camera 1 s, so in this case, the user of the local camera 1 sneeds to handle all of the common images Vc as objects to be obtained.

However, in the event that the service dealer has installed the commoncamera 2 s, and many users possess the local camera 1 s as thereto, itbecomes necessary to distinguish which user each of the respectivecommon images Vc recorded at the common camera 2 s side corresponds to.That is to say, recording of the common image Vc is performed at thecommon camera 2 s side in response to the trigger signal TG to betransmitted from the multiple local cameras 1 s.

Accordingly, with the present example, the identifying information (ID)of the local camera 1 s is recorded so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc.

Though the configuration is illustrated in FIG. 5, the local camera 1 sis provided with an ID storing unit 20, and the ID (identifying codeinformation) inherent in the local camera 1 s thereof is stored therein.This ID may be a serial number or the like to be fixedly provided to anapparatus serving as the local camera 1 s at the time of manufacturingthe apparatus, or may be something which is distributed to a contractuser, and is written in the ID storing unit 20. The type of the IDstoring unit 20 such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, or the like maycorrespond to each of the respective ID forms, or may be the internalmemory of the micro computer serving as the local control unit 10, ofcourse. Further, the type of the ID storing unit 20 may be removablememory such as a memory card to be mounted on the local camera 1 s, or arecording medium for recording image-captured images at the local camera1 s, which includes memory (so-called memory in cassette (MIC)), or thelike.

When transmitting the trigger signal TG from the transmission unit 11,the local control unit 10 also transmits the ID stored in the ID storingunit 20.

At the common camera 2 s side the reception unit 34 receives the IDalong with the trigger signal TO, and hands these to the common controlunit 30. The common control unit 30 supplies the ID to the recordingplayback unit 33 as recorded data, and controls the recording playbackunit 33 to record this in the recording media 36 so as to correspond tothe common image Vc.

FIG. 6 illustrates the processing of the local control unit 10 and theprocessing of the common control unit 30. This processing, as with theabove FIG. 3, is performed in the case wherein the local camera 1 s andthe common camera are both supplied with power, and are in a state inwhich image capturing (monitor display) of a subject is performed as theimage capturing mode (i.e., a state of waiting for shutter timing).

Upon detecting the operation of the shutter switch 18 by the user instep F111, the local control unit 10 supplies the ID stored in the IDstoring unit 20 to the transmission unit 11 along with the triggersignal TG in step F112, and controls the transmission unit 11 totransmit these.

Subsequently, the local control unit 10 performs still-image recordingcontrol of the local image VL in step F113.

On the other hand, the common control unit 30 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received at the reception unit 34 as step F211, and uponthe trigger signal TG being received, the common control unit 30acquires the ID received along with the trigger signal TG as recordingdata in step F212. Subsequently, in step F213, the common control unit30 performs recording control of the still image as the common image VC,and the ID corresponding thereto. That is to say, the common controlunit 30 controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 32 and therecording playback unit 33 to execute recording of an image-capturedimage (common image Vc) at the trigger-received timing, and also recordsthe ID in the recording media 36 as appended data as to the common imageVc thereof.

Here, recording of the ID may be performed as to another medium otherthan the recording media 36. For example, in the event of employing acassette tape (above-described MIC) including memory as the recordingmedia 36, an arrangement may be made wherein the common image Vc isrecorded in the magnetic tape within the cassette, and the ID issimilarly recorded in the above memory within the cassette.

According to this processing, the common image Vc is recorded along withthe ID of each of the respective local cameras 1 s at the common camera2 s side.

FIG. 7 illustrates the recording states of images at the two localcameras 1 s and the common camera 2 s.

Let us say that with the two local cameras 1 s, an ID1 and ID2 are setto the respective IDs, respectively.

Let us say that with the local camera 1 s of the ID1, a certain userperformed a shutter operation three times, and as illustrated in thedrawing, the local images VL1, VL2, and VL3 were recorded in therecording media 19.

Also, let us say that another user possessing the local camera 1 s ofthe ID2 performed a shutter operation once, and as illustrated in thedrawing, the local image VL1 was recorded in the recording media 19.

At the common camera 2 s, recording of the common image Vc is performedin response to receiving of the trigger signal TG from each of the localcameras 1 s, so the four common images Vc1, Vc2, Vc3, and Vc4 are to berecorded in the recording media 36 in response to the trigger signal TGtransmitted from the two local cameras 1 s four times in total.

Here, the ID1 is associated with the common image Vc1 and recorded, theID2 is associated with the common image Vc2 and recorded, the ID2 isassociated with the common image Vc3 and recorded, and the ID1 isassociated with the common image Vc4 and recorded, respectively.

That is to say, the common image Vc1 was recorded based on the triggersignal TG at the time of recording of the local image VL1 beingperformed by the local camera 1 s of the ID1, and the ID1 transmittedsimultaneously is appended thereto.

The common image Vc2 was recorded based on the trigger signal TG at thetime of recording of the local image VL2 being performed by the localcamera 1 s of the ID1, and the ID1 transmitted simultaneously isappended thereto.

The common image Vc3 was recorded based on the trigger signal TG at thetime of recording of the local image VL1 being performed by the localcamera 1 s of the ID2, and the ID2 transmitted simultaneously isappended thereto.

The common image Vc4 was recorded based on the trigger signal TG at thetime of recording of the local image VL3 being performed by the localcamera 1 s of the ID1, and the ID1 transmitted simultaneously isappended thereto.

Thus, the ID of the local camera 1 s is associated with the common imageVc and recorded, whereby it can be understood which local camera 1 s(user) each of the common images Vc in the recording media 36 should beprovided to.

In the case of FIG. 7, the common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc4 need to beprovided to the user of the local camera 1 s of the ID1, and the commonimage Vc3 needs to be provided to the user of the local camera 1 s ofthe ID2.

Thus, it can be determined which of the multiple local cameras 1 s eachof the common images Vc corresponds to by the IDs, whereby an imageservice system of which targets are the multiple local cameras 1 s canbe established.

Incidentally, description has been made wherein the ID to be stored inthe ID storing unit 20 in the local cameras 1 s may be an identifyingcode to be issued by a service dealer other than the serial number of anapparatus and the like.

The service dealer issues the ID corresponding to each of the localcameras 1 s, whereby it can be employed for business on implementationof the image providing service according to the present image capturingsystem.

For example, a user who wants to enjoy the service requests issue of anID of the service dealer who provides the common camera 2 s beforehand.Subsequently, the ID thereof is stored in his/her own local camera 1 s.For example, an arrangement may be made wherein a service dealerprovides the recoding media 19 in which an ID is recorded, and the localcontrol unit 10 controls the recording playback unit 15 to read in theID to store this in the ID storing unit 20. Alternately, an arrangementmay be made wherein a user downloads an ID from a service dealer via anetwork such as the Internet or the like, whereby the ID can be storedin the local camera 1 s. Of course, a user may input the issued ID tothe local camera 1 s by an operation key or the like.

Thus, employing some sort of method allows a user to store the ID issuedby a service dealer in the ID storing unit 20.

In the event of a correct ID being transmitted along with the triggersignal TG, the common camera 2 s side determines it as a trigger signalfrom an authorized user, and performs recording of the common image Vc.

Employing such a system enables billing accompanying issuing of an ID,and elimination of unauthorized use, to be realized. Further, personalinformation such as the name, address, mail address, and so forth of auser is associated with the ID at the time of issue of an ID, therebyenabling a later image providing service smoothly, whereby the ID can beeffectively employed for managing actual business.

Also, even if an ID is taken as something fixed inherent in anapparatus, the same correspondence can be realized. For example, in theevent that a user wants to enjoy an image providing service, the userinforms a service dealer of the ID of an apparatus for registration ofthe ID. At this time, the user may provide personal information, or paya registration fee.

In the event that the ID correctly registered is transmitted along withthe trigger signal TG, the common camera 2 s side determines that it isa trigger signal from an authorized user, and performs recording of thecommon image Vc. Thus, the registered user can enjoy the service by thecommon camera 2 s, and appropriate business management can be performed.

2-3. Third Embodiment

Similarly, with an example wherein the local camera 1 and the commoncamera 2 are both still cameras, the third embodiment will be describedwith reference to FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10.

With the third embodiment, the common camera 2 s side records varioustypes of meta data so as to be associated with the common image Vc. Asfor meta data, meta data MTDL to be generated at the local camera 1 sside, and meta data MTDc to be generated at the common camera 2 s sidecan be conceived, but with the present example, let us say that both ofthe meta data MTDL and MTDc are recorded in the recording media 36 atthe common camera 2 s side so as to be associated with the common imageVc.

FIG. 8 illustrates the configuration thereof.

In addition to the configurations illustrated in FIG. 5, in the case ofFIG. 8, a meta-data generating unit 21 is provided in the local camera 1s.

When transmitting a trigger signal TG from the transmission unit 11, thelocal control unit 10 also transmits the ID stored in the ID storingunit 20, and the meta data MTDL to be generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 21.

At the common camera 2 s side the reception unit 34 receives the ID andmeta data MTDL along with the trigger signal TG, and hands these to thecommon control unit 30.

Also, a meta-data generating unit 37 is provided in the common camera 2s.

The common control unit 30 supplies the received ID, meta data MTDL, andthe meta data MTDc generated at the meta-data generating unit 37 to therecording playback unit 15 as recording data, and controls thisrecording playback unit to store the recording data in the recordingmedia 36 so as to be associated with the common image Vc.

Note that the content examples of the meta data MTDL and MTDc to begenerated will be described later.

FIG. 9 illustrates the processing of the local control unit 10 and theprocessing of the common control unit 30. This processing, as with theabove FIG. 3, is performed in the case wherein the local camera 1 s andthe common camera are both supplied with power, and also are in a statein which image capturing (monitor display) of a subject is performed asthe image capturing mode (i.e., a state of waiting for shutter timing).

Upon detecting the operation of the shutter switch 18 by the user instep F121, the local control unit 10 supplies the ID stored in the IDstoring unit 20, and the meta data MTDL generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 21 to the transmission unit 11 along with the triggersignal TG in step F122, and controls the transmission unit 11 totransmit these.

Subsequently, the local control unit 10 performs still-image recordingcontrol of the local image VL in step F123.

On the other hand, the common control unit 30 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received at the reception unit 34 as step F221, and uponthe trigger signal TG being received, the common control unit 30acquires the ID and meta data MTDL received along with the triggersignal TG as recording data in step F222. Also, in step F223, the commoncontrol unit 30 controls the meta-data generating unit 37 to generatemeta data MTDL, and acquires the meta data MTDc as recording data.

Subsequently, in step F224, the common control unit 30 performsrecording control of the still image as the common image VC, and the ID,meta data MTDL and MTDc corresponding thereto. That is to say, thecommon control unit 30 controls the image-capturing signal processingunit 32 and the recording playback unit 33 to execute recording of animage-captured image (common image Vc) at the trigger-received timing,and also record the ID, meta data MTDL and MTDc in the recording media36 as appended data as to the common image Vc thereof.

Here, recording of the ID, meta data MTDL and MTDc may be performed asto another medium other than the recording media 36. For example, in theevent of employing the above-described MIC as the recording media 36, anarrangement may be made wherein the common image Vc is recorded in themagnetic tape within the cassette, and the ID, and meta data MTDL andMTDc are similarly recorded in the above memory within the cassette.

According to this processing, the common image Vc is recorded along withthe ID and meta data MTDL and MTDc of each of the respective localcameras 1 s at the common camera 2 s side.

FIG. 10 illustrates the recording states of images at the two localcameras 1 s and the common camera 2 s. As with the above FIG. 7, let ussay that with the two local cameras 1 s, an ID1 and ID2 are set to therespective IDs, and with the local camera 1 s of the ID1, the localimages VL1, VL2, and VL3 were recorded in the recording media 19. Also,let us say that with the local camera 1 s of the ID2, the local imageVL1 was recorded in the recording media 19.

At the common camera 2 s, recording of the common image Vc is performedin response to receiving of the trigger signal TG from each of the localcameras 1 s, so the four common images Vc1, Vc2, Vc3, and Vc4 are to berecorded in the recording media 36 in response to the trigger signal TGtransmitted from the two local cameras 1 s four times in total.

Here, the common image Vc1 was recorded based on the trigger signal TGat the time of recording of the local image VL1 being performed by thelocal camera 1 s of the ID1, and the ID1 and meta data MTDL transmittedsimultaneously, and further the meta data MTDc generated at that timeare appended. thereto.

The common image Vc2 was recorded based on the trigger signal TG at thetime of recording of the local image VL2 being performed by the localcamera 1 s of the ID1, and the ID1 and meta data MTDL transmittedsimultaneously, and further the meta data MTDc generated at that timeare appended thereto.

The common image Vc3 was recorded based on the trigger signal TG at thetime of recording of the local image VL1 being performed by the localcamera 1 s of the ID2, and the ID2 and meta data MTDL transmittedsimultaneously, and further the meta data MTDc generated at that timeare appended thereto.

The common image Vc4 was recorded based on the trigger signal TG at thetime of recording of the local image VL3 being performed by the localcamera 1 s of the ID1, and the ID1 and meta data MTDL transmittedsimultaneously, and further the meta data MTDc generated at that timeare appended thereto.

The ID of the local camera 1 s is associated with the common image Vcand recorded, whereby the effects described with the above secondembodiment can be obtained.

Further, the meta data MTDL and MTDc is associated with the common imageVc and recorded, whereby further various information can be associatedwith the common image Vc and provided. The content examples of the metadata MTDL and MTDc will be described together.

As for the meta data MTDL to be generated at the meta-data generatingunit 21 of the local camera 1 s, for example, point-in-time information,positional information, the address information of the recordingposition of the local image VL in the recording media 19, the numberinginformation (e.g., value indicating which number of photograph) of thelocal image image-captured this time, the personal information of theuser, and so forth can be conceived.

In the event that the meta data MTDL includes point-in-time information,it is only necessary to provide a date-and-time counting circuit in themeta-data generating unit 21.

In the event that the meta data MTDL includes positional information, itis only necessary to provide, for example, a GPS receiver, and apositional information generating circuit in the meta-data generatingunit 21 so as to generate the positional information of longitude andlatitude.

In the event that the meta data MTDL includes numbering information, itis only necessary to provide, for example, a counter circuit which iscounted up in response to recording (shutter operation) in the meta-datagenerating unit 21.

In the event that the meta data MTDL includes personal information, itis only necessary to provide a storing unit or the like for storingpersonal information which has been input beforehand in the meta-datagenerating unit 21.

In the event that the meta data MTDL includes the address information ofthe recording position of the local image VL in the recording media 19,it is only necessary to employ the internal register of the localcontrol unit 10 as the meta-data generating unit 21. That is to say,this is a register for setting a recording address to instruct therecording playback unit 15.

Of course, various types of information other than those can beconceived as the meta data MTDL.

As for the meta data MTDL to be generated at the meta-data generatingunit 37 of the common camera 2 s, for example, point-in-timeinformation, positional information, the address information of therecording position of the common image Vc in the recording media 36, thenumbering information (e.g., value indicating which number ofphotograph) of the common image image-captured this time, informationsuch as a title, remarks, and so forth to be provided to the commonimage Vc, and so forth can be conceived.

In the event that the meta data MTDc includes point-in-time information,it is only necessary to provide a date-and-time counting circuit in themeta-data generating unit 37.

In the event that the meta data MTDc includes positional information, itis only necessary to provide, for example, a GPS receiver, and apositional information generating circuit in the meta-data generatingunit 37 so as to generate the positional information of longitude andlatitude.

In the event that the meta data MTDc includes numbering information, itis only necessary to provide, for example, a counter circuit which iscounted up in response to recording (reception of a trigger) in themeta-data generating unit 37.

In the event that the meta data MTDc includes the address information ofthe recording position of the local image Vc in the recording media 36,it is only necessary to employ the internal register of the localcontrol unit 30 as the meta-data generating unit 37. That is to say,this is a register for setting a recording address to instruct therecording playback unit 33.

In order that the meta data MTDc includes information such as a title,remarks, and so forth, it is only necessary to provide an informationprocessing unit for processing text information which has been inputbeforehand, or event program information, and so forth in the meta-datagenerating unit 21. For example, as long as event progress informationserving as an event program or the like has been provided beforehand,determination can be made regarding what kind of content a subject hasbased on the current point-in-time at the time of receiving a trigger.For example, as long as a program such as an athletic meet, concert,event, or the like, and point-in-time are correctly managed, at thepoint of recording the common image Vc in response to receiving atrigger, determination can be made regarding what kind of photograph thecommon image Vc thereof is, such as competition or show or the like.Accordingly, information such as a competition name, the performers ofan event, and so forth can be generated as the meta data MTDc.

Of course, various types of information other than those can beconceived as the meta data MTDc.

Various services are available depending on the contents of the metadata MTDL and MTDc.

In the event of including point-in-time information and positionalinformation, an individual photo image can be determined between theuser and the service dealer, whereby the common image Vc which the userdesires can be selectively provided, for example.

Also, an ID and point-in-time information enables the correspondingrelation between the respective local images VL recorded at the userside and the common image Vc to be provided. The local image VLcorresponding to each of the common images Vc can be determined at therecording media 36, thereby readily handling even a case wherein thereis a request for obtaining the common image Vc corresponding to a partof the local images VL image-captured by the user himself/herself.

In the event that the personal information or the like of the user isrecorded as the meta data MTDL, the service dealer side can determineindividually the user to be provided with each of the common images Vc.

In the event that a title, contents, and so forth are included in themeta data MTDc, as for the user who received the common image Vc, themeta data MTDc thereof is suitable for the content arrangement of imagedata.

Thus, advantages relating to service management, convenience at thedealer side, convenience at the user side, and so forth can be obtaineddepending on the contents of various types of meta data MTDc and MTDL.

Note that an arrangement may be made wherein the meta-data generatingunit 21 is not provided at the local camera 1 s side, only the meta dataMTDc generated by the meta-data generating unit 37 at the common camera2 s side is associated with the common image Vc and recorded.

Inversely, an arrangement may be made wherein the meta-data generatingunit 37 is not provided at the common camera 2 s side, only the metadata MTDL generated by the meta-data generating unit 21 at the localcamera 1 s side is associated with the common image Vc and recorded.

Further, the meta data MTDL generated at the meta-data generating unit21 may be associated with the local image VL at the recording playbackunit 15 at the local camera 1 s side and recorded.

2-4. Fourth Embodiment

Similarly, with an example wherein the local camera 1 and the commoncamera 2 are both still cameras, the fourth embodiment will be describedwith reference to FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13.

With this fourth embodiment, as with the third embodiment, the commoncamera 2 s side records an ID and various types of meta data so as tocorrespond to the common image Vc, but in addition to this, the localimage VL is also recorded so as to correspond to the common image Vc.

FIG. 11 illustrates the configurations thereof.

In this case, the configurations are almost the same as thoseillustrated in FIG. 8, but the local camera 1 s is configured so as tosupply the local image VL and meta data MTDL which played back at therecording playback unit 15 to the transmission unit 11.

When transmitting a trigger signal TG from the transmission unit 11 atthe timing of the shutter switch 18 being operated, the local controlunit 10 controls the transmission unit 11 to transmit the ID stored inthe ID storing unit 20, and the meta data MTDL to be generated at themeta-data generating unit 21 along with the trigger signal TG.

Also, at this time, the local control unit 10 controls the recordingplayback unit 15 to record the meta data MTDL along with the local imageVL.

Further subsequently, the local control unit 10 supplies the ID storedin the ID storing unit 20, the local image VL and meta data MTDL whichplayed back at the recording playback unit 15 to the transmission unit11 to transmit these.

At the common camera 2 s side the reception unit 34 receives the ID andmeta data along with the trigger signal TG, and hands these to thecommon control unit 30.

Also, in the event of receiving the ID and meta data MTDL along with thelocal image VL, the reception unit 34 hands these data to the commoncontrol unit 30.

FIG. 12 illustrates the processing of the local control unit 10 and theprocessing of the common control unit 30. This processing, as with theabove FIG. 3, is performed in the case wherein the local camera 1 s andthe common camera are both supplied with power, and also are in a statein which image capturing (monitor display) of a subject is performed asthe image capturing mode (i.e., a state of waiting for shutter timing).

Upon detecting the operation of the shutter switch 18 by the user instep F131, the local control unit 10 supplies the ID stored in the IDstoring unit 20, and the meta data MTDL generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 21 to the transmission unit 11 along with the triggersignal TG in step F132, and controls the transmission unit 11 totransmit these.

Subsequently, the local control unit 10 performs still-image recordingcontrol of the local image VL in step F133. At this time, the localcontrol unit 10 supplies the meta data MTDL generated and transmitted inthe above step F132 to the recording playback unit 15, and controls therecording playback unit 15 to associate this with the local image VL andrecord this.

Subsequently, in step F134, the local control unit 10 controls therecording playback unit 15 to play back the local image VL and meta dataMTDL recorded in the recording media 19, and supply these to thetransmission unit 11. Also, at this time, the ID of the ID storing unit20 is also supplied to the transmission unit 11. Subsequently, the localcontrol unit 10 controls the transmission unit 11 to transmit the localimage VL, meta data MTDL, and ID.

On the other hand, the common control unit 30 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received at the reception unit 34 in step F231, and thatthe data of the local image VL is received at the reception unit 34 instep F235.

At a certain time point, upon confirming reception of the trigger signalTG in step F231, the processing of the common control unit 30 proceedsto step F232, where the common control unit 30 acquires the ID and metadata MTDL received along with the trigger signal TG as recording data.

Subsequently, in step F233, the common control unit 30 controls themeta-data generating unit 37 to generate meta data MTDc, and acquiresthe meta data MTDc as recording data.

Subsequently, in step F234, the common control unit 30 performsrecording control of the still image as the common image Vc, and the IDand meta data MTDL and MTDc corresponding thereto. That is to say, thecommon control unit 30 controls the image-capturing signal processingunit 32 and the recording playback unit 33 to execute recording of animage-captured image (common image Vc) at the trigger-received timing,and also record the ID and meta data MTDL and MTDc in the recordingmedia 36 as appended data as to the common image Vc.

Subsequently, the processing returns to the reception monitoring loop insteps F231 and F235.

At a certain time point, upon confirming reception of the local image VLin step F235, the processing of the common control unit 30 proceeds tostep F236, where the common control unit 30 acquires the still-imagedata as the local image VL, and the ID and meta data MTDL received alongwith the local image VL.

Next, the common control unit 30 collates the ID and meta data MTDL instep F237, and determines which common image Vc the received local imageVL corresponds to.

In the above step F234, the ID and meta data MTDL are appended to andrecorded in the common image Vc. Subsequently, the ID and meta data MTDLacquired in step F236 is information which is recorded in the recordingmedia 19 at the local camera 1 s side at the same timing as the commonimage Vc, played back, and transmitted. Accordingly, the common image Vcto which the ID and meta data MTDL of which content is the same as theID and meta data MTDL acquired in step F236 is appended should berecorded in the recording media 36. That is to say, determination can bemade which common image Vc the local image VL transmitted this timecorresponds to by continuously collating the received ID and meta dataMTDL with the ID and meta data MTDL associated with each of the commonimages Vc in the recording media 36 to search the matched ID and metadata MTDL.

Note that in order to perform such consistent collating, point-in-timeinformation is preferably included in the meta data MTDL. Also,positional information may be collated together. Also, in the event thatinformation which can identify the local camera 1 s, such as personalinformation or the like, is included in the meta data MTDL, transmissionof the ID in step F134 and collating of the IDs in step F237 may not beperformed necessarily.

Upon the corresponding relation between the received local image VL andthe recorded common image Vc being determined according to the abovecollating processing, in step F238 the common control unit 30 suppliesthe local image VL to the recording playback unit 33, and controls therecording playback unit 33 to record the local image VL in the recordingmedia 36 so as to associate the local image VL with the correspondingcommon image Vc.

According to this processing, at the common camera 2 s side the commonimage Vc is recorded along with the ID and meta data MTDL and MTDc ofeach of the local cameras 1 s, also at the point of the local image VLbeing transmitted, the local image VL is recorded so as to be associatedwith the common image Vc.

FIG. 13 illustrates the recording states of images at the two localcameras 1 s and the common camera 2 s. As with the above FIG. 7, let ussay that with the two local cameras 1 s, an ID1 and ID2 are set to therespective IDs, and with the local camera 1 s of the ID1, the localimages VL1, VL2, and VL3 were recorded in the recording media 19. Also,let us say that with the local camera 1 s of the ID2, the local imageVL1 was recorded in the recording media 19.

With the local camera 1 s of the ID1, the meta data MTDL is recordedcorresponding to each of the local images VL1, VL2, and VL3, whichincludes point-in-time information at the recording time point of eachof the local images VL1, VL2, and VL3, for example.

Also, with the local camera 1 s of the ID2, the meta data MTDL isrecorded corresponding to the local image VL1, which includespoint-in-time information at the recording time point of the local imageVL1, for example.

The common camera 2 s side performs recording of the common image Vc inresponse to reception of the trigger signal TG from each of the localcameras 1 s, so the four common images Vc1, Vc2, Vc3, and Vc4 arerecorded in the recording media 36 in response to the trigger signal TGtransmitted four times in total from the two local cameras 1 s.

As with the example described at the above FIG. 10, each of the commonimages Vc1 through Vc4 is appended with the ID1 and meta data MTDLtransmitted simultaneously with the trigger signal TG, and further themeta data MTDc generated at that time.

Subsequently, the local image VL is transmitted from the local camera 1s, in response to the processing in the above steps F235 through F238being performed, the local image VL is recorded in the recording media36 so as to be associated with the particular common image Vc.

The local image VL1 from the local camera 1 s of the ID1 is recordedcorresponding to the common image Vc1.

The local image VL2 from the local camera 1 s of the ID1 is recordedcorresponding to the common image Vc2.

The local image VL1 from the local camera 1 s of the ID2 is recordedcorresponding to the common image Vc3.

The local image VL3 from the local camera 1 s of the ID1 is recordedcorresponding to the common image Vc4.

According to the present example, thus, the local image VL and thecommon image Vc recorded simultaneously at the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s are in a state of being stored in the recording media36 at the common camera 2 s side in a corresponding manner between thelocal image VL and the common image Vc.

Accordingly, for example, a service dealer employing the common camera 2s can provide a user with a better service by using both of the localimage VL and the common image Vc. For example, the present exampleenables an album specialized in an individual user to be created, whichincludes the local image VL recorded at the user side such as editing orsynthesizing or the like by associating the local image VL with thecommon image Vc.

Note that in the event that there is no need to associate the localimage VL with the common image Vc individually, the collating processingin step F237 is unnecessary, but in this case, the ID and meta data MTDLare preferably recorded in the recording media 36 along with the localimage VL.

2-5. Fifth Embodiment

The fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14, FIG.15, and FIG. 16.

Let us say that this fifth embodiment is an example in the case whereinthe local camera 1 is a video camera for performing imagecapturing/recording of moving images, and the common camera 2 side is astill camera.

The local camera 1 v is almost the same as the local camera 1 s in FIG.2 from the perspective of the configuration on the drawing, but therecording playback unit 15 is configured so as to record the movingpictures from the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 in therecording media 19.

Also, a video switch 22 is provided for a user performing a start/endoperation of recording of a moving image. For example, the local controlunit 10 controls the recording playback unit 15 to start recording of amoving image by the video switch 22 being pressed, and stop recording ofthe moving image by the video switch 22 being pressed again.

The shutter switch 18 illustrated in the drawing is an operator forexecuting recording of a still image at the common camera 2 s side. Thatis to say, this is an operator for the user instructing transmission ofa trigger signal TG.

Note that it is needless to say that in addition to the portionsillustrated in the drawing, configurations such as circuits, mechanisms,operating unit, and so forth which are necessary for a normal videocamera are provided. Also, an unshown microphone and an audio processingsystem are provided, and with the recording playback unit 15, recordingof an audio signal is performed along with recording of a moving-imagepicture.

Let us say that the configuration at the common camera 2 s side is thesame as that in FIG. 2.

FIG. 15 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 v and thecommon camera 2 s. The processing of the local camera 1 v is processingat a time point when the user turns on the power supply of the localcamera 1 v, which is in a standby state of recording a moving image(recording), and the processing of the common camera 2 s is processingwhen recording of a still image can be performed.

With the local camera 1 v, the picture of a subject image-captured bythe image capturing unit 13 is monitor-displayed at the display unit 17in a standby state prior to start of recording.

The local control unit 10 monitors the operation of the shutter switch18 in a standby state in step F141, and also monitors the recordingstart operation of the video switch 22 in step F143.

In the event that the user presses the shutter switch 18 withoutperforming a recording start operation in a standby state, the localcontrol unit 10 performs the processing in step F142, and supplies thetrigger signal TG to the transmission unit 11 to execute transmission ofthe trigger signal TG.

Also, in the event that the user performs the operation of the videoswitch 22 in a standby state, the local control unit 10 starts recordingof a moving image as step F144. That is to say, the control unit 10gives an instruction of recording of a moving image to the recordingplayback unit 15 and the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 tostart a recording operation of a moving-image picture of a subject inthe recording media 19.

Following starting recording of a moving image in step F144, the localcontrol unit 10 monitors the operation of the shutter switch 18 in stepF145, and also monitors a recording stop operation by the video switch22 in step F147.

Subsequently, in the event that the user presses the shutter switch 18,the local control unit 10 supplies the trigger signal TG to thetransmission unit 11 in step F146 to execute transmission of the triggersignal TG.

Also, in the event that the user performs the operation of the videoswitch 22, the local control unit 10 stops recording of the moving imageas step F148. That is to say, the control unit 10 gives a moving-imagerecording stop instruction to the recording playback unit 15 and theimage-capturing signal processing unit 14 to end an operation ofrecording a moving-image picture of a subject in the recording media 19.Subsequently, the processing returns to the monitoring loop in stepsF141 and F143.

On the other hand, the common control unit 30 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received by the reception unit 34 as step F241, and uponthe trigger signal TG being received, performs recording of a stillimage in step F242. That is to say, the common control unit 30 controlsthe image-capturing signal processing unit 32 and the recording playbackunit 33 to execute recording of an image-captured image (common imageVc) at the trigger-received timing.

According to this processing, the user performs a shutter operation atthe local camera 1 v, whereby image capturing/recording of an image isperformed at the common camera 2 s. That is to say, with the localcamera 1 v, the user can execute recording of a moving-image pictureduring an arbitrary period of time, and also can execute recording of astill image at an arbitrary time point as to the common camera 2 s.

FIG. 16 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1v and the common camera 2 s.

The user of the local camera 1 v performs a recording start operation ata certain time point, and also performs a recording stop operation at acertain time point, and thus, the local image VL1 as a moving-imagepicture is recorded in the recording media 19 in the recording playbackunit 15 of the local camera 1 v.

Also, subsequently, in the same way, the user performs a recording startoperation at a certain time point, and also performs a recording stopoperation at a certain time point, and thus, the local image VL2 as amoving-image picture is recorded in the recording media 19.

At this time, let us say that the user presses the shutter switch 18 attime points illustrated as TG1 and TG2 during recording of the localimage VL1. At these time points, transmission of the trigger signal TGis performed at the processing in step F146, and accordingly, recordingof a still image is performed at the common camera 2 s side. These areeach recorded as the common images Vc1 and Vc2 as still images in therecording media 36 in the recording playback unit 33 at the commoncamera 2 s side.

Also, let us say that following completion of recording of the localimage VL1, the user presses the shutter switch 18 twice at time pointsbefore start of recording of the local image VL2. In this case, at eachof the time points, transmission of the trigger signal TG (TG3 and TG4)is performed at the processing in step F142, and accordingly, recordingof a still image is performed at the common camera 2 s side. These arerecorded as the common images Vc3 and Vc4 as still images in therecording media 36 in the recording playback unit 33 at the commoncamera 2 s side.

Further, if we say that the user presses the shutter switch 18 at acertain time point illustrated as TG5 during recording of the localimage VL2, recording of a still image is performed at the common camera2 s side in response to the trigger signal TG5 at this time, and this isrecorded as the common image Vc5 as a still image in the recording media36 in the recording playback unit 33 at the common camera 2 s side.

Thus, in the case of the present example, the user can execute recordingof a moving-image picture during an arbitrary period of time in thelocal camera 1 v, and also can execute recording of a still image at thecommon camera 2 s side at an arbitrary time point during recording orduring recording standby.

That is to say, the user can execute image capturing/recording of astill image at the common camera 2 s side at a desired timing whileperforming recording by himself/herself, and can obtain a moving pictureand a still image with a simple operation by the common image Vc beingprovided later.

Note here that description has been made regarding an example whereinonly the trigger signal TG is transmitted, but with a system of thelocal camera 1 v serving as a video camera and the common camera 2 sserving as a still camera, such as the present example, the varioustypes of operation described with the above second through fourthembodiments can be performed.

That is to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta dataMTDL are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG, these arerecorded at the common camera 2 s side so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc, and the meta data MTDc generated at the common camera 2 s sideis recorded so as to correspond to the common image Vc.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the local camera 1v, the meta data MTDL is recorded so as to correspond to the local imageVL as a moving image, also the recorded local image VL and meta dataMTDL are transmitted to the common camera 2 s side, and the local imageVL as a moving image is recorded at the common camera 2 s side so as tocorrespond to the common image Vc.

Also, description has been made wherein the trigger signal TG istransmitted by the shutter switch 18 being pressed, but the triggersignal TG may be transmitted in response to the operation of the videoswitch 22 or an operation relating to recording of a moving image. Forexample, an arrangement may be made wherein the trigger signal TG istransmitted in response to a recording start operation or stopoperation, and a still image is recorded at the common camera 2 s side.

Also, in this case, an arrangement can be conceived wherein the shutterswitch 18 is not provided.

Further, an arrangement may be made wherein when operating the shutterswitch 18, not only transmission of the trigger signal TG is performed,but also recording as a still image is performed at the recordingplayback unit 15. For example, in response to a shutter operation instep F141 during recording standby, the still image of a subject at thattime is recorded in the recording media 19. Of course, an arrangementmay be made wherein in response to a shutter operation during recording,one frame of an image at particularly that shutter timing is extractedto perform recording of a still image.

2-6. Sixth Embodiment

The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 17, FIG.18, and FIG. 19.

Let us say that this sixth embodiment is an example in the case whereinthe common camera 2 is a video camera for performing imagecapturing/recording of moving images, and the local camera 1 is a stillcamera.

The local camera 1 s has the same configuration as that illustrated inFIG. 2.

The common camera 2 v is almost the same as the common camera 2 s inFIG. 2 from the perspective of the configuration on the drawing, but therecording playback unit 33 is configured so as to record the movingpictures from the image-capturing signal processing unit 32 in therecording media 36.

Also, a video switch 38 is provided for a start/end operation ofrecording of a moving image. For example, the common control unit 30controls the recording playback unit 33 to start recording of a movingimage by the video switch 38 being pressed, and end recording of themoving image by the video switch 38 being pressed again.

Note that it is needless to say that in addition to the portionsillustrated in the drawing, configurations such as circuits, mechanisms,operating unit, and so forth which are necessary for a normal videocamera are provided. Also, an unshown microphone and an audio processingsystem are provided, and with the recording playback unit 33, recordingof an audio signal is performed along with recording of a moving-imagepicture.

FIG. 18 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing of the local camera 1 s is processingat the time of being in a still-image recordable state. Also, with thepresent example, let us say that the common camera 2 v always performsrecording of a moving image, the processing of the common camera 2 v isprocessing from start of recording thereof to end of recording thereof.

Upon detecting the operation of the shutter switch by the user in stepF151, the local control unit 10 controls the transmission unit 11 totransmit the trigger signal TG in step F152.

At the same time, the local control unit 10 performs still-imagerecording control in step F153. That is to say, the local control unit10 controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 and therecording playback unit 15 to execute recording of an image-capturedimage (local image VL as a still image) at the shutter timing.

The common control unit 30 makes recording of a moving image start instep F252 by the video switch 38 being pressed in step F251. That is tosay, the common control unit 30 gives an instruction of recoding of amoving image to the recording playback unit 33 and the image-capturingsignal processing unit 32 to start an operation of recording amoving-image picture of a subject in the recording media 36.

For example, if we say that the common camera 2 v always performsrecording of a moving image, at a time point of an event, athletic meet,or the like beginning, the video switch 38 is operated by the staff orthe like of the service dealer, resulting in start of recording of amoving image.

While continuously executing of recording of a moving image, the commoncontrol unit 30 monitors that the trigger signal TG is received at thereception unit 34 as step F253, and also monitors a recording stopoperation in step F255.

Upon detecting reception of the trigger signal TG in step F253, thecommon control unit 30 performs still-image recording control in stepF254. In this case, a moving image is now being recorded, so whilecontinuing recording of the moving image, the common control unit 30makes one frame of image at the received timing of the trigger signalextract as still-image data, and controls the recording playback unit 33to record the extracted frame in the recording media 36 as anotherstill-image data other than a moving image.

Upon detecting a recording stop operation in step F255, the commoncontrol unit 30 controls the recording playback unit 33 to stoprecording of the moving image in step F256. For example, at a time pointof an event or athletic meet ending, the staff or the like of theservice dealer performs a recording stop operation by the video switch38.

According to this processing, the user performs a shutter operation atthe local camera 1 s, whereby recording of a still image is performed atthe common camera 2 v. That is to say, with the common camera 2 v, whilecontinuing recording of a moving image, recording of a still image isperformed synchronously with a shutter operation by the user of thelocal camera 1 s.

FIG. 19 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1s and the common camera 2 v.

The user of the local camera 1 s performs a shutter operation at anarbitrary time point, whereby the local image VL as a still image isrecorded in the recording media 19 of the local camera 1. If we say thata shutter operation is performed four times, the local images VL1through VL4 are recorded as illustrated in the drawing.

On the other hand, the common camera 2 v always performs recording of amoving image, so the common image Vc as the moving image thereof isrecorded in the recording media 36.

Also, one frame being recorded is extracted by the trigger signals TG1through TG4 along with a shutter operation at the local camera 1 s side,and the common images Vc1 through Vc4 as still images are recorded inthe recording media 36. The common images Vc1 through Vc4 become imageshaving the same timing as the local images VL1 through VL4,respectively.

Thus, in the event of the present example, as with the case of the firstembodiment, as soon as the user performs a shutter operation to recordthe local image VL as a still image, the common image Vc serving as thecorresponding still image is recorded at the common camera 2 v side.Accordingly, the user can obtain various images at the same timing.

Further, in this case, recording of a moving image is continuouslyperformed at the common camera 2 v side, so that a moving-image picturecan be provided at the user side as well. For example, providing of themoving image of the overall event, providing of moving-image picturesbefore and after the timing of a shutter operation, and so forth by theuser can be conceived.

Accordingly, the user can obtain the still image and moving image at thecommon camera 2 s side while performing image capturing/recording of astill image by himself/herself. Thus, a various and also satisfactoryimage providing service for the user can be realized.

Note here that description has been made regarding an example whereinonly the trigger signal TG is transmitted, but with a system of thelocal camera 1 v serving as a still camera and the common camera 2 sserving as a video camera, the various types of operation described withthe above second through fourth embodiments can be performed.

That is to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta dataMTDL are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG, these arerecorded at the common camera 2 v side so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc as a still image, and the meta data MTDc generated at thecommon camera 2 v side is recorded so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc as a still image.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the local camera 1s, the meta data MTDL is recorded so as to correspond to the local imageVL as a still image, and also the recorded local image VL and meta dataMTDL are transmitted to the common camera 2 v side, and the local imageVL as a still image is recorded at the common camera 2 v side so as tocorrespond to the common image Vc as a still image.

Also, with regard to the common images Vc1 through Vc4 as still imagessuch as FIG. 19, it is not always necessary to performextraction/recording of a frame at the trigger-received timing. That isto say, an arrangement may be made wherein the trigger-received timingis recorded with the time code of the common image Vc0 as a still imagebeforehand, and at a later time point, a frame is extracted to generatethe common images Vc1 through Vc4 as still images.

2-7. Seventh Embodiment

The seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 20 andFIG. 21. This seventh embodiment is, as with the above sixth embodiment,the case of the local camera 1 s serving as a still camera, and thecommon camera 2 v serving as a video camera, and let us say that theconfigurations are the same as those in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing of the local camera 1 s is processingat the time of being in a still-image recordable state. Also, theprocessing of the common camera 2 v is processing at the time of beingin a standby state in which recording of a moving image can beperformed.

The processing of the local control unit 10 is the same as that in theabove FIG. 18, which is illustrated with the same step numbers (F151,F152, and F153).

On the other hand, the common control unit 30 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received by the reception unit 34 in step F251 a.

Upon detecting reception of the trigger signal TG in step F251 a, thecommon control unit 30 performs moving-image recording control in stepF252 a. That is to say, the common control unit 30 gives an instructionof recording of a moving image to the recording playback unit 33 and theimage-capturing signal processing unit 32 to start an operation ofrecording a moving-image picture of a subject in the recording media 36,with the received timing of the trigger signal as recording starttiming.

Following starting recording of a moving image, the common control unit30 performs timekeeping. Subsequently, upon a certain period of timeelapsing, the processing proceeds from step F253 a to step F254 a, wherethe common control unit 30 controls the recording playback unit 33 tostop recording of the moving image.

According to this processing, the user performs a shutter operation atthe local camera 1 s, whereby recording of a moving image is performedfor a certain period of time at the common camera 2 v.

FIG. 21 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1s and the common camera 2 v.

The user of the local camera 1 s performs a shutter operation at anarbitrary time point, whereby the local image VL as a still image isrecorded in the recording media 19 of the local camera 1. If we say thata shutter operation is performed four times, the local images VL1through VL4 are recorded as illustrated in the drawing.

On the other hand, with the common camera 2 v, recording of a movingimage is performed by a trigger signal along with a shutter operation atthe local camera 1 s side, and accordingly, the common images Vc1through Vc4 as moving images are recorded in the recording media 36. Themoving-image start timing of the common images Vc1 through Vc4 becomesthe recording timing of the local images VL1 through VL4, respectively.

Thus, in the event of the present example, the user performs a shutteroperation, which is the timing when recording of the local image VL as astill image is recorded, and from this timing recording of a movingimage is performed at the common camera 2 v side, whereby the user canobtain the moving-image picture relating to the still image recorded byhimself/herself. In this case also, the service dealer and others canprovide a satisfactory image providing service for users.

Note that in the event of this example also, the operations describedwith the above second through fourth embodiments can be conceived. Thatis to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta data MTDLare transmitted along with the trigger signal TG, these are recorded atthe common camera 2 v side so as to correspond to the common image Vc asa moving image, and the meta data MTDc generated at the common camera 2v side is recorded so as to correspond to the common image Vc as amoving image.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the local camera 1s, the meta data MTDL is recorded so as to correspond to the local imageVL as a still image, also the recorded local image VL and meta data MTDLare transmitted to the common camera 2 v side, and the local image VL asa still image is recorded at the common camera 2 v side so as tocorrespond to the common image Vc as a still image.

Also, description has been made wherein recording at the common camera 2v side is performed for a certain period of time, but for example, anarrangement can be conceived wherein recoding itself is alwaysperformed, the timing when receiving the trigger signal is stored, andlater a moving-image picture is edited based on that received timing tobe provided to the user.

2-8. Eighth Embodiment

The eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 22 andFIG. 23.

Let us say that this eighth embodiment is an example in the case whereinboth of the local camera 1 and the common camera 2 are video cameras forperforming image capturing/recording of moving images.

The configuration of the local camera 1 v is the same as that in FIG.14, and the configuration of the common camera 2 v is the same as thatin FIG. 17.

FIG. 22 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 v and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing in steps F161 through F168 of thelocal camera 1 v is the same as that in steps F141 through F148 in FIG.15. Also, the processing in steps F261 through F266 of the common camera2 v is the same as that in steps F251 through F256 in FIG. 18.

Accordingly, detailed description will be avoided here, but the localcamera 1 v executes recording of a moving image during a period of timein response to the operation of the video switch 22 of the user, andalso the shutter switch 18 is operated during recording or duringrecording standby, thereby transmitting a trigger signal to the commoncamera 2 v side.

Also, while always continuing recording of a moving image, in responseto the trigger signal TG being received, the common camera 2 v extractsand records a still image at that timing.

According to this processing, with the local camera 1 v, the user canexecute recording of a moving-image picture during an arbitrary periodof time, and also with the common camera 2 v, recording of a still imageis performed synchronously with the shutter operation of the user of thelocal camera 1 while continuing recording of a moving image.

FIG. 23 illustrates the recording states of images at the local cameras1 v and the common camera 2 v.

The user of the local camera 1 v performs a recording start operation ata certain time point, and performs a recording stop operation at anarbitrary time point, whereby the local image VL1 as a moving-imagepicture is recorded in the recording media 19 in the recording playbackunit 15 of the local camera 1 v.

Also subsequently, in the same way the user performs a recording startoperation at a certain time point, and performs a recording stopoperation at an arbitrary time point, whereby the local image VL2 as amoving-image picture is recorded in the recording media 19.

On the other hand, with the common camera 2 v, recording of a movingimage is continuously performed, so that the common image Vc0 serving asthe moving image thereof is recorded in the recording media 36.

Also, one frame during recording is extracted at the common camera 2 vside by the trigger signals TG1 through TG5 along with a shutteroperation during recording or during recording standby at the localcamera 1 v side, and the common images Vc1 through Vc5 as still imagesare recorded in the recording media 36.

Thus, in the event of the present example, the user can executerecording of a moving-image picture during an arbitrary period of timeat the local camera 1 v, and also can make the common camera 2 s sideexecute recording of a still image during recording or at an arbitrarytime point during recording standby.

That is to say, the user can make the common camera 2 v side executerecording of a still image at the desired timing while performingrecording by himself/herself, and can obtain a moving image and a stillimage with a simple operation by the common image Vc being providedlater.

Further, in this case, recording of a moving image is continuouslyperformed at the common camera 2 v side, whereby a common image as astill image can be provided to the user side. For example, the movingimage of the overall event, or moving-image pictures before and afterthe timing of the shutter operation of the user can be provided.

Note that in this case, the various operations described with the abovesecond through fourth embodiments can be conceived. In this case, the IDand meta data MTDL are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG,these are recorded at the common camera 2 v side so as to correspond tothe common image Vc, and the meta data MTDc generated at the commoncamera 2 v side is recorded so as to correspond to the common image Vc.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the local camera 1v, the meta data MTDL is recorded so as correspond to the local image VLas a moving image, also the recorded local image VL and meta data MTDLare transmitted to the common camera 2 v side, and the local image VL asa moving image is recorded at the common camera 2 v side so as tocorrespond to the common image Vc.

Also, description has been made wherein the trigger signal TG istransmitted by the shutter switch 18 being pressed, but the triggersignal TG may be transmitted in response to the operation of the videoswitch 22 or an operation relating to recording of a moving image. Forexample, an arrangement may be made wherein the trigger signal TG istransmitted in response to a recording start operation or stopoperation, and a still image is recorded at the common camera 2 v side.

Also, in this case, an arrangement can be conceived wherein the shutterswitch 18 is not provided.

Further, an arrangement may be made wherein when operating the shutterswitch 18, not only transmission of the trigger signal TG is performed,but also recording of the local image VL as a still image is performedat the recording playback unit 15.

2-9. Ninth Embodiment

The ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 24 andFIG. 25. This ninth embodiment is, as with the above eighth embodiment,the case in which both of the local camera 1 and the common camera 2 arevideo cameras.

FIG. 24 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 v and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing of the local camera 1 v and the commoncamera 2 v is processing from the time of being in a standby state inwhich recording of a moving image can be performed.

The processing of the local control unit 10 is the same as that in theabove FIG. 22, which is illustrated with the same step numbers (F161through F168).

On the other hand, steps F261 a through F264 a serving as the processingof the common control unit 30 are the same as steps F251 a through F254a in FIG. 20. That is to say, upon the trigger signal TG being receivedby the reception unit 34, the common control unit 30 regards this as therecording start timing, and performs moving-image recording startcontrol as to the recording playback unit 33 and the image-capturingsignal processing unit 32 to record the moving-image picture of asubject in the recording media 36 for a certain period of time.

According to this processing, with the local camera 1 v, the user canexecute recording of a moving-image picture for an arbitrary period oftime, and with the common camera 2 v, recording of a moving image isperformed for a certain period of time from the trigger-signal receivedtiming in response to a shutter operation at the local camera 1 v.

FIG. 25 illustrates the recording states of images at the local cameras1 v and the common camera 2 v.

The local images VL1 and VL2 as moving-image pictures are recorded inthe recording media 19 of the local camera 1 v in response to arecording start operation and a recording stop operation by the user.

On the other hand, with the common camera 2 v, the common images Vc1through Vc5 are recorded in the recording media 36 in response to thetrigger signals TG1 through TG5 along with a shutter operation duringrecording or during recording standby at the local camera 1 v side.

Thus, in the event of the present example, the user can arbitrarilyrecord a moving-image picture at the local camera 1 v, and also make thecommon camera 2 v execute recording of a moving image from an arbitrarytime point by a shutter operation, and accordingly can obtain variousmoving-image pictures.

Note that in the event of this example also, the operations describedwith the above second through fourth embodiments can be conceived. Thatis to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta data MTDLare transmitted along with the trigger signal TG, these are recorded atthe common camera 2 v side so as to correspond to the common image Vc,and the meta data MTDc generated at the common camera 2 v side isrecorded so as to correspond to the common image Vc.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the local camera 1v, the meta data MTDL is recorded so as to correspond to the local imageVL as a moving image, also the recorded local image VL and meta dataMTDL are transmitted to the common camera 2 v side, and the local imageVL as a moving image is recorded at the common camera 2 v side so as tocorrespond to the common image Vc as a moving image.

Also, description has been made wherein recording at the common camera 2v side is performed for a certain period of time, but for example, anarrangement can be conceived wherein recoding itself is alwaysperformed, the timing when receiving the trigger signal is stored, andlater a moving-image picture is edited based on that received timing tobe provided to the user.

2-10. Tenth Embodiment

The tenth embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 26. This is the case inwhich let us say that the local camera 1 is a silver-salt camera, andthe common camera 2 is a still camera.

A local camera 1 f includes a local control unit 10, a transmission unit11, an antenna 12, a shutter switch 18, an image-capturing opticalsystem 23, and a mechanical system 24.

A shutter mechanism in the mechanical system 24 is driven and controlledby the local control unit 20 in response to the shutter switch 18, andshooting of a subject image as to a film 25 is performed.

This local camera 1 f includes a trigger transmission function inaddition to a configuration serving as a normal silver-salt camera, andthe local control unit 10 controls the mechanical system 24 to executephoto shooting in response to the operation of the shutter switch 18,and also controls the transmission unit 11 to transmit a trigger signalTG.

The processing of the local control unit 10 is the same as steps F101through F103 in FIG. 3, and the processing of the common control unit 30of the common camera 2 s is the same as steps F201 through F202 in FIG.3.

According to the tenth embodiment, the user performs arbitrary photoshooting using the silver-salt camera, whereby the common image Vc isrecorded at the common camera synchronously with shooting thereof. Theuser obtains the common image Vc later, whereby the user can obtainimage data relating to the photo captured by himself/herself.

Note that an arrangement may be made wherein the local camera 1 fperforms the operation of the second and third embodiments, i.e.,transmission of an ID or meta data MTDL. Of course, in this case, thecommon camera 2 s records an ID, meta data MTDL, further the meta dataMTDc generated at the common camera 2 s side so as to correspond to thecommon image Vc.

Also, a system can be conceived wherein the common camera 2 is assumedto be a video camera, which performs the operations described with thesixth and seventh embodiments in response to the trigger signal T fromthe local camera 1 f.

2-11. System Pattern Examples of Local Cameras and Common Cameras

So far, description has been made regarding a case wherein the localcamera 1 is the first image capturing device referred by the claims ofthe present invention, and the common camera 2 is the second imagecapturing device as the first through tenth embodiments.

As a system configuration in these cases, pattern examples other than aconfiguration made up of the one local camera 1 and the one commoncamera 2 will be illustrated in FIG. 27, FIG. 28, and FIG. 29.

FIG. 27 is a system example made up of the one common camera 2 and themultiple local cameras 1. The common camera 2 performs a recordingoperation based on the trigger signal TG from each of the local cameras1. With this system, the overall image is image-captured/recorded by theone common camera 2, and on the other hand, multiple common users eachpossess the local camera 1, and perform arbitrary imagecapturing/recording. Each of the users can be provided with the commonimage Vc corresponding to the local image VL recorded byhimself/herself.

FIG. 28 is a system example made up of the multiple common cameras 2 andthe one local camera 1. Each of the common cameras 2 performs arecording operation based on the trigger signal TG from the local camera1.

In this case, various images can be obtained as the common images Vc bythe common camera 2. As long as the user of the local camera 1 simplyperforms arbitrary shooting, the user can obtain the various commonimages Vc based on the image capturing/recording timing thereof.

FIG. 29 is a system example made up of the multiple common cameras 2 andthe multiple one local cameras 1.

An arrangement may be made wherein all of the common cameras 2 alwaysperform recording of an image in response to the trigger signal TG fromall of the local cameras 1, or for example, an arrangement can beconceived wherein the respective common cameras 2 are installed atplaces having some distance therebetween such as a wide event site, atheme park, and so forth, and in the event that the user possessing thelocal camera 1 approaches and performs recording of an image (in theevent of being included in the transmission/reception range of thetrigger signal TG), the common camera 2 thereof performs recording of animage.

With these system examples, the local camera 1 may be any one of a stillcamera, video camera, and silver-salt camera, and in the event ofemploying the multiple local cameras 1, may be a mixture thereof. Also,the common camera 2 may be any one of a still camera, and video camera,or may be a mixture.

It is only necessary that the local camera 1 and the common camera 2perform the operations of the above embodiments depending on the machineconfiguration thereof.

3. Embodiments for Performing Trigger Transmission from Common Cameras

3-1. Eleventh Embodiment

Subsequently, description will be made regarding a case wherein thelocal camera 1 is the second image capturing device referred by theclaims of the present invention, and the common camera 2 is the firstimage capturing device, as the eleventh through twenty-firstembodiments.

That is to say, this is a system wherein the trigger signal TG istransmitted from the common camera 2 to the local camera 1.

Let us say that the eleventh embodiment is an example wherein both ofthe local camera 1 and the common camera 2 are still cameras, anddescription thereof will be made with reference to FIG. 30, FIG. 31, andFIG. 32.

FIG. 30 illustrates the configurations of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s, according to the eleventh embodiment.

The local camera 1 s has, as with the above embodiments, a local controlunit 10, an antenna 12, an image capturing unit 13, an image-capturingsignal processing unit 14, a recording playback unit 15, a displayprocessing unit 16, a display unit 17, and a shutter switch 18.

Further, with this eleventh embodiment, a reception unit 26 forreceiving the trigger signal TG to be transmitted from the common camera2 s is provided.

The common camera 2 s includes, as with the above embodiments, a commoncontrol unit 30, an image capturing unit 31, an image-capturing signalprocessing unit 32, a recording playback unit 33, and an antenna 35.Also, in this case, the common camera 2 s includes a transmission unit39 for transmitting the trigger signal TG.

In this case, one of or both of a shutter switch 40 and a shutterprogram 41 are provided, which enables the shutter timing at the commoncamera 2 s side to be obtained.

The shutter switch 40 is provided such that, for example, the staff of aservice dealer or the like who employs the common camera 2 s performs ashutter operation.

The shutter program 41 is a program for the common control unit 30automatically performing shutter control. This can be conceived such asa program for setting the point-in-time of shutter timing depending onthe content of an event or the like, a program for instructingperiodical timing, or a program for detecting shutter timing inaccordance with an instruction from an automatic control system such asthe attraction or the like of a theme park.

FIG. 31 illustrates the processing of the local control unit 10, and theprocessing of the common control unit 30. The processing in FIG. 31 isprocessing in the case wherein both of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s are supplied with power, and also are in a state inwhich image capturing (monitor display) of a subject is performed as theimage capturing mode (i.e., a state of waiting for shutter timing).

The common control unit 30 stands by for shutter timing in step F401.The term “shutter timing” is timing when the staff operates the shutterswitch 40, or timing instructed by the shutter program 41.

Upon detecting shutter timing, the common control unit 30 controls thetransmission unit 39 to transmit the trigger signal TG in step F402.

At the same time, the common control unit 30 performs still-imagerecording control. That is to say, the common control unit 30 controlsthe image-capturing signal processing unit 32 and the recording playbackunit 33 to execute recording of an image-capture image (common image Vc)at the shutter timing.

On the other hand, the local control unit 10 monitors that the triggersignal TO is received by the reception unit 26 as step F301, and alsomonitors the operation of the shutter switch 18 by the user in stepF302.

Subsequently, in the event of receiving the trigger signal TG, and inthe event of detecting a shutter operation, the processing proceeds tostep F303, where the local control unit 10 performs still-imagerecording control. That is to say, the local control unit 10 controlsthe image-capturing signal processing unit 14 and the recording playbackunit 15 to execute recording of an image-capture image (common imageVL).

According to this processing, with the common camera 2 s side, recordingof the common image Vc at the shutter timing by setting or operation isperformed, and on the other hand, with the local camera 1 s possessed bythe user, the local image VL at the timing according to the shutteroperation by the user, and the local image VL in sync with the commonimage Vc at the common camera 2 s are recorded.

FIG. 32 illustrates the recording states of the recording media 19within the recording playback unit 15 at the local camera 1 s side, andthe recording media 36 within the recording playback unit 33 at thecommon camera 2 s side. For example, let us say that the local imagesVL1 and VL4 are recorded in the recording media 19 in response to theshutter operation of the user of the local camera 1 s.

Also, if we say that with the common camera 2 s side, the common imagesVc1 and Vc2 are recorded in the recording media 36 at certain shuttertiming, recording of the local image VL is also performed at the localcamera 1 s side in response to the trigger signal TG at that time. Forexample, the local images VL2 and VL3 are recorded at the same timing asthe common images Vc1 and Vc2.

That is to say, this system is suitable for a situation in which thecommon camera 2 s side can understand and manage the progression andtime schedule of an event or the like, and can know the most appropriateshutter timing and so forth beforehand. That is to say, with the commoncamera 2 s, recording of the common image Vc is performed at the mostappropriate timing as to a subject, and also with the local camera 1 s,recording of the local image VL is performed at the timing thereof bythe common camera 2 s transmitting the trigger signal TG, andaccordingly, recording of the local image VL can be performed at thelocal camera 1 s without missing the most appropriate timing.

With the local camera 1 s, recording of the local image VL is performedby a shutter operation at an arbitrary time point, imagecapturing/recording which the user desires is realized, of course.

Incidentally, with the respective examples described below from thiseleventh embodiment to the twentieth embodiment, recording of an imagebased on the trigger signal TG from the common camera 2 is performed atthe local camera 1. In this case, unless the local camera 1appropriately captures a subject at a time point of the trigger signalTG being received, it is difficult to obtain the preferable local imageVL.

Therefore, in the event of assuming that the local camera 1 is a devicewhich the user possesses, and with which the user arbitrarily performsimage capturing, it is appropriate to inform the user (local camera 1)to perform standby of image capturing beforehand.

Description will be made later regarding an operation for performingsuch standby notification with reference to FIG. 55.

On the other hand, in the event of assuming that the local camera 1 isnot a camera device possessed by a common user, for example, the localcamera 1 is a device which is installed fixedly at a certain place, oris possessed by a business staff, or the like, thereby always capturinga subject side, there is no need to perform standby notification.

3-2. Twelfth Embodiment

Similarly, with an example wherein the local camera 1 and the commoncamera 2 are both still cameras, the twelfth embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 33, FIG. 34, and FIG. 35.

With the above eleventh embodiment, in the event of a system includingthe multiple common cameras 2, it is difficult to determine at whichcommon camera 2 the common image Vc in sync with the local image VLrecorded in response to the trigger signal TG at the local camera 1 sidewas recorded.

Therefore, with the twelfth embodiment, an arrangement is made whereinthe identifying information (ID) of the common camera 2 is transmittedalong with the trigger signal TG, and the identifying information (ID)of the identifying information 1 of the common camera is recorded at thelocal camera 1 side so as to correspond to the local image VL.

FIG. 33 illustrates the configurations of the twelfth embodiment. Thecommon camera 2 s is provided with an ID storing unit 42, which storesthe ID (identifying code information) inherent in the common camera 2 s.This ID may be a serial number or the like to be provided fixedly to theequipment serving as the common camera 2 s at the time of manufacturing,or may be a code number which is arbitrarily set as to each of themultiple common cameras 2, and is written in the ID storing unit 42. Thetype as the ID storing unit 42, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, or thelike, may be any type as long as it corresponds to the form of theseIDs, so may be the internal memory of the microcomputer serving as thecommon control unit 30, of course.

When transmitting the trigger signal TG from the transmission unit 39,the common control unit 30 transmits the ID stored in the ID storingunit 42 together.

With the local camera 1 s side, the reception unit 26 receives the IDalong with the trigger signal TG, and hands this to the local controlunit 10. The local control unit 10 supplies the ID to the recordingplayback unit 15 as recording data, and controls the recording playbackunit 15 to record this in the recording media 19 so as to correspond tothe common image Vc.

FIG. 34 illustrates the processing of the local control unit 10 and thecommon control unit 30. This processing is processing in a state inwhich both of the local camera 1 s and the common camera 2 s aresupplied with power, and also image capturing (monitor display) of asubject is performed as the image capturing mode.

The common control unit 30 stands by for shutter timing in step F411.Upon detecting shutter timing by the operation of the shutter switch 40of the staff, or by the instruction of the shutter program 41, thecommon control unit 30 controls the transmission unit 39 to transmit thetrigger signal TG and the ID stored in the ID storing unit 42 in stepF412.

Subsequently, the common control unit 30 performs of the still-imagerecording control of the common image Vc.

On the other hand, the local control unit 10 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received by the reception unit 26 as step F311, and alsomonitors the operation of the shutter switch 18 by the user in stepF312.

Subsequently, in the event of detecting a shutter operation in stepF312, the processing proceeds to step F313, where the local control unit10 performs still-image recording control. That is to say, the localcontrol unit 10 controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 14and the recording playback unit 15 to execute recording of animage-captured image (local image VL).

Also, in the event of detecting reception of the trigger signal TG, thelocal control unit 10 acquires the ID received along with the triggersignal TG as recording data in step F314. Subsequently, the localcontrol unit 10 performs recording control of the local image VL as astill image, and the ID corresponding thereto in step F315. That is tosay, the local control unit 10 controls the image-capturing signalprocessing unit 14 and the recording playback unit 15 to executerecording of an image-captured image (local image VL) at thetrigger-received timing, and also record the ID in the recording media19 as appended data as to the local image VL.

According to this processing, the local images VL are recorded alongwith the IDs of the respective common cameras 2 s.

FIG. 35 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1s and the two common cameras 2 s. Let us say that with the two commoncameras 2 s, the ID1 and ID2 are set as the respective IDs.

With the common camera 2 s of the ID1, let us say that shutter timingoccurred twice, and the common images Vc1 and Vc2 were recorded in therecording media 36.

Also, with the common camera 2 s of the ID2, let us say that shuttertiming occurred once, and the common image Vc1 was recorded in therecording media 36.

With the local camera 1 s side, recording of the local image VL isperformed in response to the trigger signal from the respective commoncameras 2 s, and the shutter operation of the user. Therefore, the threelocal images VL1, VL3, and VL4 are recorded in response to the triggersignal TG transmitted three times in total from the two common cameras 2s. Additionally, the IDs of the common cameras 2 s are associated withthese local images VL1, VL2, and VL3, and recorded in the recordingmedia 19. According to the shutter operation of the user, if we say thatthe two local images VL2 and VL5 were recorded, it is needless to saythat no ID was recorded so as to correspond to these.

Thus, the local images VL are associated with the IDs of the commoncameras 2 s, whereby it can be understood which common image Vc of thecommon cameras 2 s each of the local images VL is associated with. Also,it can be determined that the local images VL to which no ID is appendedare due to the shutter operation of the user himself/herself.

Incidentally, transmitting the IDs from the common cameras 2 s can beemployed not only for identifying of correspondence of images such asdescribed above but also for a service business.

For example, a service dealer informs a user whom a service is providedto of the ID of the particular common camera 2 s to request the user toinput this in the local camera 1 s beforehand. Subsequently, with thelocal camera 2 s side, in the event that the ID transmitted along withthe trigger signal TG is identical with the ID that has been input (ifcorrespondence is confirmed), the trigger signal thereof is taken as aneffective trigger. Thus, the common camera 2 s which can be used foreach user can be set. Now, an arrangement can be conceived wherein theID of the common camera 2 s, and a program for executing processing forcollating an ID, and so forth are recorded in the recording media 19 tobe provided to a user, and are installed to the local camera 1 side fromthe recording media 19 thereof by the user.

3-3. Thirteenth Embodiment

Similarly, with an example wherein the local camera 1 and the commoncamera 2 are both still cameras, the thirteenth embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 36, FIG. 37, and FIG. 38.

With the thirteenth embodiment, the common camera 2 s side recordsvarious types of meta data so as to correspond to the common image Vc.Also, the local camera 1 s side records various types of meta data so asto correspond to the local image VL.

As for meta data, there are meta data MTDL to be generated at the localcamera 1 s side, and meta data MTDc to be generated at the common camera2 s side. With the present example, let us say that this meta data MTDcis associated with the common image Vc and recorded in the recordingmedia 36 at the common camera 2 s side, and both of the meta data MTDLand MTDc are associated with the local image VL and recorded in therecording media 19 at the local camera 1 s side.

FIG. 36 illustrates the configurations of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s. In addition to the configurations illustrated in FIG.33, in the case of FIG. 36, the common camera 2 s is provided with ameta-data generating unit 37.

When transmitting the trigger signal TG from the transmission unit 39,the common control unit 30 also transmits the ID stored in the IDstoring unit 42, and the meta data MTDc to be generated at the meta datagenerating unit 37.

Also, the common control unit 30 supplies the meta data MTDc generatedat the meta-data generating unit 37 to the recording playback unit 33 asrecording data, and controls the recording playback unit 33 to associatethe meta data MTDc with the common image Vc, and record this in therecording media 36.

At the local camera 1 s side the reception unit 26 receives the ID alongwith the trigger signal TG, and hands these to the local control unit10.

Also, the local camera 1 s provided with a meta-data generating unit 21.

The local control unit 10 supplies the received ID, meta data MTDc, andthe meta data MDTL generated at the meta-data generating unit 21 to therecording playback unit 15 as recording data, and controls the recordingplayback unit 15 to associate this recording data with the local imageVL, and record this in the recording media 19.

FIG. 37 illustrates the processing of the local control unit 10 and thecommon control unit 30. This processing is processing in a state inwhich both of the local camera 1 s and the common camera 2 s aresupplied with power, and also image capturing (monitor display) of asubject is performed as the image capturing mode to wait for shuttertiming.

The common control unit 30 stands by for shutter timing in step F421.Upon detecting shutter timing by the operation of the shutter switch 40of the staff, or by the instruction of the shutter program 41, in stepF422 the common control unit 30 supplies the ID stored in the ID storingunit 20, the meta data MTDc generated at the meta-data generating unit37 to the transmission unit 39 along with the trigger signal TG, andcontrols the transmission unit 39 to transmit these.

Also, in step F423 the common control unit 30 performs the still-imagerecording control of the common image Vc, and also supplies the metadata MTDc to the recording playback unit 33, and controls the recordingplayback unit 33 to associate the meta data MTDc with the common imageVc, and record this in the recording media 36.

On the other hand, the local control unit 10 monitors that the triggersignal TG is received by the reception unit 26 as step F321, and alsomonitors the operation of the shutter switch 18 by the user in stepF322.

Subsequently, in the event of detecting a shutter operation in stepF322, the processing proceeds to step F323, where the local control unit10 performs still-image recording control. In this case, the localcontrol unit 10 controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 14and the recording playback unit 15 to execute recording of animage-captured image (local image VL). Also, the local control unit 10supplies the meta data MTDL generated at the meta-data generating unit21 to the recording playback unit 15, and controls the recordingplayback unit 15 to associate this with the local image VL, and recordthis.

In the event of detecting reception of the trigger signal TG in stepF321, the local control unit 10 acquires the ID and meta data MTDcreceived along with the trigger signal TG as recording data in stepF324. Subsequently, the local control unit 10 performs recording controlof the local images VL as still images, and the ID, meta data MTDc andMTDL corresponding thereto in step F325. That is to say, the localcontrol unit 10 controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 14and the recording playback unit 15 to execute recording of animage-captured image (local image VL) at the trigger-received timing,and also record the received ID, meta data MTDc, and further the metadata MTDL generated at the meta-data generating unit 21 in the recordingmedia 19 as appended data as to the local image VL thereof.

According to this processing, with both of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s, the meta data MTDL and MTDc is recorded along withthe local images VL and the common images Vc.

FIG. 38 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1s and the common camera 2 s.

With the common camera 2 s side, if we say that shutter timing occurredthree times, and the common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3 were recorded inthe recording media 36, the meta data MTDc generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 37 is associated with these common images Vc1, Vc2, andVc3, and recorded.

With the local camera 1 s side, recording of the local image VL isperformed in response to the trigger signal from the common camera 2 s,and the shutter operation of the user. Therefore, for example, if we saythat the three local images VL1, VL3, and VL4 were recorded in responseto the trigger signal TG transmitted three times in total from thecommon camera 2 s, the IDs and meta data MTDc transmitted from thecommon camera 2 s, and the meta data MTDL generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 21 are associated with these local images VL1, VL2, andVL3, and recorded in the recording media 19.

According to the shutter operation of the user, if we say that the twolocal images VL2 and VL5 were recorded, the meta data MTDL generated atthe meta-data generating unit 21 is associated with these, and recorded.

The ID of the common camera 2 s is associated with the local images VLand recorded, whereby the advantage described with the above twelfthembodiment can be obtained.

Further, the meta data MTDL and MTDc is associated with the local imagesVL and recorded, whereby various types of information can be associatedwith the local image VL, or correspondence as to the common image Vcregarding each of the local images VL can be clarified.

As for the meta data MTDL to be generated at the meta-data generatingunit 21 of the local camera 1 s, for example, point-in-time information,positional information, the address information of the recordingposition of the local image VL in the recording media 19, the numberinginformation (e.g., value indicating which number of photograph) of thelocal image image-captured this time, the personal information of theuser, and so forth can be conceived.

Also, as for the meta data MTDL to be generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 37 of the common camera 2 s, for example, point-in-timeinformation, positional information, the address information of therecording position of the common image Vc in the recording media 36, thenumbering information (e.g., value indicating which number ofphotograph) of the common image image-captured this time, informationsuch as a title, remarks and the like to be given to the common imagesVc and local images VL, and so forth can be conceived.

Appending these meta data MTDL and MTDc enables various advantagesdescribed with the above third embodiment to be obtained.

Particularly, in the event that the content of an event, or the progresssituation of an athletic meet, or the like where the common camera 2 sside is image-capturing can be understood, e.g., in the event that atime schedule is managed beforehand, or the like, an appropriate keywordcan be set in accordance with the point-in-time thereof. For example,the content of an event, a competition name, or the like can be set as akeyword. Such a keyword is arranged so as to be included in meta dataMTDc, and is associated with the local image VL and recorded at thelocal camera 1 s side, whereby the convenience of the user at the localcamera 1 s side can be improved.

An arrangement may be made wherein no meta-data generating unit 21 isprovided at the local camera 1 s side, and only the meta data MTDcgenerated at the meta-data generating unit 37 at the common camera 2 sside is associated with the local image VL and recorded.

Inversely, an arrangement may be made wherein no meta-data generatingunit 37 is provided at the common camera 2 s side, and only the metadata MTDL generated at the meta-data generating unit 21 at the localcamera 1 s side is associated with the local image VL and recorded.

Further, an arrangement may be made wherein recording of the meta dataassociated with the common image Vc is not performed at the recordingplayback unit 33 at the common camera 2 s side.

3-4. Fourteenth Embodiment

Similarly, with an example wherein the local camera 1 and the commoncamera 2 are both still cameras, the fourteenth embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 39, FIG. 40, and FIG. 41.

With the fourteenth embodiment, at the local camera 1 s side like theabove thirteenth embodiment, an ID and various types of meta data areassociated with the local image VL and recorded, and additionally, theseare associated with the common image Vc and recorded.

FIG. 39 illustrates the configurations of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s. This case has almost the same configurations as thoseillustrated in the above FIG. 36, but the common camera 2 s is assumedso as to supply the common image Vc and meta data MTDc which were playedback at the recording playback unit 33 to the transmission unit 39.

When transmitting the trigger signal TG from the transmission unit 39 atshutter timing, the common control unit 30 controls the transmissionunit 39 to transmit the ID stored in the ID storing unit 42 togetherwith the meta data MTDc to be generated at the meta-data generating unit37. Also, at this time, the common control unit 30 controls therecording playback unit 33 to record the meta data MTDc along with thecommon image Vc.

Further subsequently, the common control unit 30 supplies the ID storedin the ID storing unit 42, and the common image Vc and meta data MTDcplayed back at the recording playback unit 33 to the transmission unit39, and controls the transmission unit 39 to transmit these.

With the local camera 1 s side, the reception unit 26 receives the IDand meta data MTDc along with the trigger signal TG, and hands these tothe local control unit 10.

Also, in the event of receiving the ID and meta data MTDc along with thecommon image Vc, the reception unit 26 hands these to the local controlunit 10.

FIG. 40 illustrates the processing of the local control unit 10 and thecommon control unit 30. This processing is processing in a state inwhich both of the local camera 1 s and the common camera 2 s aresupplied with power, and also image capturing (monitor display) of asubject is performed as the image capturing mode to wait for shuttertiming.

When detecting shutter timing in step F431, in step F432 the commoncontrol unit 30 supplies the ID stored in the ID storing unit 42, andthe meta data MTDc generated at the meta-data generating unit 37 alongwith the trigger signal TG, and controls the transmission unit 39 totransmit these.

Subsequently, the common control unit 30 performs still-image recordingcontrol of the common image Vc in step F433. At this time, the commoncontrol unit 30 supplies the meta data MTDc generated and transmitted atthe time of step F432 to the recording playback unit 33, and controlsthe recording playback unit 33 to associate this with the common imageVc and record this.

Subsequently, in step F434, the common control unit 30 controls therecording playback unit 33 to play back the common image Vc and metadata MTDc recorded in the recording media 36 and supply these to thetransmission unit 39. Also, at this time, the ID in the ID storing unit42 is supplied to the transmission unit 39. Subsequently, the commoncontrol unit 30 controls the transmission unit 39 to transmit the commonimage Vc, meta data MTDc, and ID.

On the other hand, the local control unit 10 performs monitoringprocessing using the monitoring loop of steps F331, F332, and F336. Thatis to say, in step F331, the local control unit 10 monitors that thetrigger signal TG is received at the reception unit 34, and monitorsthat the shutter switch 18 is operated in step F332. Further, in stepF336, the local control unit 10 monitors that the common image Vc datais received at the reception unit 34.

At a certain time point, upon confirming reception of the trigger signalTG in step F331, the processing of the local control unit 10 proceeds tostep F334, where the local control unit 10 acquires the ID and meta dataMTDc received along with the trigger signal TG as recording data.

Subsequently, in step F335, the local control unit 10 performs recordingcontrol of a still image as the common image Vc, and the ID and metadata MTDL and MTDc corresponding thereto. That is to say, the localcontrol unit 10 controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 14and the recording playback unit 15 to execute recording of animage-captured image (common image Vc) at the trigger-received timing,and also record the ID and meta data MTDc, and the meta data MTDLgenerated at the meta data generating unit 21 in the recording media 19as appended data as to the common image Vc.

Subsequently, the processing returns to the monitoring loop in stepF331, F332, and F336.

In the event of detecting a shutter operation in step F332, theprocessing proceeds to step F333, where the local control unit performsstill-image recording control. In this case, the local control unit 10controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 and the recordingplayback unit 15 to execute recording of an image-captured image (localimage VL). Also, the local control unit 10 supplies the meta data MTDLgenerated at the meta-data generating unit 21 to the recording playbackunit 15, and controls the recording playback unit 15 to associate thiswith the local image VL and record this. Subsequently, the processingreturns to the monitoring loop in steps F331, F332, and F336.

At a certain time point, upon confirming reception of the common imageVc in step F336, the processing of the local control unit 10 proceeds tostep F337, where the local control unit 10 acquires the still-image dataas the common image Vc, and the ID and meta data MTDc received alongwith the common image Vc.

Next, the local control unit 10 collates the ID and meta data MTDc instep F338, and determines which local image VL the received common imageVc is associated with.

In the above step F335, the ID and meta data MTDc are appended to andrecorded in the local image VL. Subsequently, the ID and meta data MTDcacquired in step F337 is information which is recorded in the recordingmedia 36 at the common camera 2 s side at the same timing as the localimage VL, played back, and transmitted. Accordingly, the local image VLto which the ID and meta data MTDc of which content is the same as theID and meta data MTDc acquired in step F337 is appended should berecorded in the recording media 19. That is to say, determination can bemade which local image VL the common image Vc transmitted this time isassociated with by continuously collating the received ID and meta dataMTDc with the ID and meta data MTDc associated with each of the localimages VL in the recording media 19 to search the matched ID and metadata MTDc.

Note that in order to perform such consistent collating, point-in-timeinformation is preferably included in the meta data MTDc. Also,positional information may be collated together.

According to the above collating processing, upon completingdetermination of the associated relation between the received commonimage Vc and the recorded local image VL, in step F339 the local controlunit 10 supplies the common image Vc to the recording playback unit 15,and controls the recording playback unit 15 to associate this with thecorresponding local image VL, and record this in the recording media 19.

According to this processing, at the local camera 1 s side, the localimages VL is recorded along with the meta data MTDL and MTDc, and alsoat a time point of the common image Vc being transmitted, the commonimage Vc is associated with the local image VL and recorded.

FIG. 41 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1s and the common camera 2 s.

With the common camera 2 s side, if we say that shutter timing occurredthree times, and the common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3 were recorded inthe recording media 36, the meta data MTDc generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 37 is associated with these common images Vc1, Vc2, andVc3, and recorded.

With the local camera 1 s side, recording of the local image VL isperformed in response to the trigger signal TG from the common camera 2s, and the shutter operation of the user. Therefore, for example, if wesay that the three local images VL1, VL3, and VL4 were recorded inresponse to the trigger signal TG transmitted three times in total fromthe common camera 2 s, the IDs and meta data MTDc transmitted from thecommon camera 2 s, and the meta data MTDL generated at the meta-datagenerating unit 21 are associated with these local images VL1, VL2, andVL3, and recorded in the recording media 19.

According to the shutter operation of the user, if we say that the twolocal images VL2 and VL5 were recorded, the meta data MTDL generated atthe meta-data generating unit 21 are associated with these, andrecorded.

Also, in response to that the common image Vc is transmitted from thecommon camera 2 s, and the processing in the above steps F337 throughF339 is performed, the common image Vc is associated with the particularlocal image VL, and recorded in the recording media 19.

That is to say, the common image Vc1 corresponding to the local imageVL1, the common image Vc2 corresponding to the local image VL3, and thecommon image Vc3 corresponding to the local image VL4 are recorded,respectively.

According to the present example, thus, the local image VL and thecommon image Vc recorded simultaneously at the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 s are in a state of being associated and stored in therecording media 19 at the local camera 1 s side.

Therefore, the user employing the local camera 1 s can obtain the localimage VL and the common image Vc immediately.

Note that in the event that there is no need to associate the commonimages Vc with the local images VL individually, the collatingprocessing in step F338 is unnecessary. In this case, the ID and metadata MTDc transmitted at the same time corresponding to the common imageVc are preferably recorded in the recording media 36.

3-5. Fifteenth Embodiment

The fifteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 42,FIG. 43, and FIG. 44.

Let us say that this fifteenth embodiment is an example in the casewherein the common camera 2 is a video camera for performing imagecapturing/recording of moving images, and the local camera 1 is a stillcamera.

The common camera 2 v is almost the same as the common camera 2 s inFIG. 30 from the perspective of the configuration on the drawing, butthe recording playback unit 33 is configured so as to record the movingpictures from the image-capturing signal processing unit 32 in therecording media 36.

Also, a video switch 43 is provided for a staff performing a recordingstart/end operation of a moving image. For example, the common controlunit 30 controls the recording playback unit 33 to start recording of amoving image by the video switch 43 being pressed, and end recording ofthe moving image by the video switch 43 being pressed again.

Note that it is needless to say that in addition to the portionsillustrated in the drawing, configurations such as circuits, mechanisms,operating unit, and so forth which are necessary for a normal videocamera are provided. Also, an unshown microphone and an audio processingsystem are provided, and with the recording playback unit 33, recordingof an audio signal is performed along with recording of a moving-imagepicture.

Let us say that the configuration at the local camera 1 s side is thesame as that in FIG. 30.

FIG. 43 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 s and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing of the local camera 1 s processing ina state in which recording of a still image can be performed. Also, withthe present example, let us say that the common camera 2 v is alwaysperforming recording of a moving image, wherein the processing of thecommon camera 2 v is processing from start of recording thereof to end.

The common control unit 30 makes recording of a moving image start instep F442 by the video switch 43 being pressed in step F441. That is tosay, the common control unit 30 gives an instruction of recording of amoving image to the recording playback unit 33 and the image-capturingsignal processing unit 32 to start an operation of recording amoving-image picture of a subject in the recording media 36.

For example, if we say that the common camera 2 v always performsrecording of a moving image, at a time point of an event, athletic meet,or the like beginning, the video switch 43 is operated by the staff orthe like of the service dealer, resulting in start of recording of amoving image.

While continuously executing of recording of a moving image, the commoncontrol unit 30 monitors a recording stop operation in step F443, andalso waits for shutter timing in step F445.

Upon detecting shutter timing by the shutter switch 40 or shutterprogram 41 in step F445, the common control unit 30 controls thetransmission unit 39 to transmit the trigger signal TG in step F446.

Upon detecting a recording stop operation in step F443, the commoncontrol unit 30 controls the recording playback unit 33 to stoprecording of the moving image in step F444. For example, at a time pointof an event or athletic meet ending, the staff or the like of theservice dealer performs a recording stop operation by the video switch43.

The local control unit 10 monitors that the trigger signal TG isreceived by the reception unit 26 as step F341, and also monitors theoperation of the shutter switch 18 by the user in step F342.

In the event of detecting reception of the trigger signal TG, and in theevent of detecting a shutter operation, the processing proceeds to stepF343, and where the local control unit 10 performs still-image recordingcontrol. That is to say, the local control unit 10 controls theimage-capturing signal processing unit 14 and the recording playbackunit 15 to execute recording of an image-captured image (local imageVL).

According to this processing, consequently, while recording of a movingimage is performed at the common camera 2 v side, recording of a stillimage is performed at the local camera 1 s side in response to theshutter operation by the user and the trigger signal TG from the commoncamera 2 v.

FIG. 44 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1s and the common camera 2 v.

Recording of a moving image is always performed at the common camera 2v, and accordingly, the common image Vc serving as the moving imagethereof is recorded in the recording media 36.

With the local camera 1 s side, recording of the local image VL isperformed in response to the trigger signal TG from the common cameras 2v, and the shutter operation of the user. Therefore, for example, thethree local images VL1, VL3, and VL4 are recorded in response to thetrigger signal TG transmitted three times in total from the commoncamera 2 v. Also, this provides a state in which the local image VL2 isrecorded by the shutter operation of the user.

According to the present example, with the local camera 1 s, the usercan perform recording of the local image VL by performing a shutteroperation at an arbitrary time point, and also can realize recording ofthe local image VL at an appropriate shutter opportunity by the triggersignal TG.

Also, recording of a moving image is always performed at the commoncamera 2 v side, thereby enabling the overall or a part of the movingimage thereof to be provided.

Note here that description has been made using an example wherein onlythe trigger signal TG is transmitted, but with a system made up of thelocal camera 1 s and the common camera 2 v such as the present example,various types of operations described with the above twelfth throughfourteenth embodiments can be performed as well.

That is to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta dataMTDc are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG, these arerecorded at the local camera 1 s side so as to correspond to the localimage VL, and the meta data MTDL generated at the local camera 1 s sideis recorded so as to correspond to the local image VL.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the common camera2 v, the meta data MTDc is recorded so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc as a moving image, also the recorded common image Vc and metadata MTDc are transmitted to the local camera 1 s side, and the commonimage Vc as a moving image is recorded at the local camera 1 s side soas to correspond to the local image VL.

Also, description has been made wherein the trigger signal TG istransmitted at the shutter timing determined by the shutter switch 40 orthe shutter program 41, but the trigger signal TG may be transmittedwith the operation timing of the video switch 43 as shutter timing. Forexample, an arrangement may be made wherein the trigger signal TG istransmitted in response to a recording start operation or stopoperation, and a still image is recorded at the local camera 1 s side.

Further, an arrangement may be made wherein at the time of shuttertiming, not only transmission of the trigger signal TG is performed, butalso recording of the common image Vc as a still image is performed atthe recording playback unit 33.

3-6. Sixteenth Embodiment

The sixteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 45,FIG. 46, and FIG. 47.

Let us say that this sixteenth embodiment is an example in the casewherein the local camera 1 is a video camera for performing imagecapturing/recording of moving images, and the common camera 2 side is astill camera.

The local camera 1 v is almost the same as the local camera 1 s in FIG.30 from the perspective of the configuration on the drawing, but therecording playback unit 15 is configured so as to record the movingpictures from the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 in therecording media 19.

Also, a video switch 22 is provided for the user performing a recordingstart/end operation of a moving image. For example, the local controlunit 10 controls the recording playback unit 15 to start recording of amoving image by the video switch 22 being pressed, and end recording ofthe moving image by the video switch 22 being pressed again.

Note that it is needless to say that in addition to the portionsillustrated in the drawing, configurations such as circuits, mechanisms,operating unit, and so forth which are necessary for a normal videocamera are provided. Also, an unshown microphone and an audio processingsystem are provided, and with the recording playback unit 15, recordingof an audio signal is performed along with recording of a moving-imagepicture.

Let us say that the configuration at the common camera 2 s side is thesame as that in FIG. 30.

FIG. 46 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 v and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing of the local camera 1 v is processingat a certain time point wherein the user turns on the power of the localcamera 1 v, and the local camera 1 v is in a standby state for recordingof a moving image (recording), and the processing of the common camera 2s is processing at the time of being in a still-image recordable state.

The common control unit 30 waits for shutter timing in step F451. Upondetecting shutter timing as the timing of the shutter switch 40 beingoperated by the staff, or the timing instructed by the shutter program41, the common control unit 30 controls the transmission unit 39 totransmit the trigger signal TG in step F452.

Subsequently, the common control unit 30 performs still-image recordingcontrol in step F453. That is to say, the common control unit 30controls the image-capturing signal processing unit 32 and the recordingplayback unit 33 to execute recording of an image-captured image (commonimage Vc) at shutter timing.

With the local camera 1 v, the picture of a subject image-captured bythe image capturing unit 13 is monitor-displayed at the display unit 17in a standby state prior to start of recording.

The local control unit 10 monitors the recording start operation of thevideo switch 22 in a standby state in step F351, and also monitorsreception of the trigger signal TG in step F352.

In the event of detecting reception of the trigger signal TG in astandby state in which the user performs no recording start operation,the local control unit 10 executes recording of the local image VL as astill image as to the recording media 19 in step F353.

Also, in the event that the user performs the operation of the videoswitch 22 in a standby state, the local control unit 10 starts recordingof a moving image as step F354. That is to say, the control unit 10gives an instruction of recording of a moving image to the recordingplayback unit 15 and the image-capturing signal processing unit 14 tostart a recording operation of a moving-image picture of a subject as tothe recording media 19.

Following starting recording of a moving image in step F354, the localcontrol unit 10 monitors reception of the trigger signal TG in stepF355, and also monitors a recording stop operation by the video switch22 in step F357.

Subsequently, in the event of detecting reception of the trigger signalTG in step F355, the local control unit 10 performs still-imagerecording control in step F356. In this case, the recording playbackunit 15 is recording a moving image, so while continuing recording amoving image, the local control unit 10 extracts one frame image at thereception timing of the trigger signal TG as still-image data, andrecords this in the recording media 19 as one still-image data differentfrom the moving image.

Also, in the event that the user performs the operation of the videoswitch 22, the local control unit 10 stops recording of the moving imageas step F358. That is to say, the control unit 10 gives a moving-imagerecording stop instruction to the recording playback unit 15 and theimage-capturing signal processing unit 14 to end the recording operationof the moving-image picture of a subject as to the recording media 19.Subsequently, the processing returns to the monitoring loop in stepsF351 and F352.

According to this processing, the user can execute recording of amoving-image picture during an arbitrary period of time at the localcamera 1 v, and also can record a still image which is sync with thecommon image Vc at the shutter opportunity set at the common camera 2 sside.

FIG. 47 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1v and the common camera 2 s.

The user of the local camera 1 v performs a recording start operation ata certain time point, and also performs a recording stop operation at anarbitrary time point, and thus, the local image VL2 as a moving-imagepicture is recorded in the recording media 19 in the recording playbackunit 15 of the local camera 1 v.

With the common camera 2 s side, let us say that shutter timing occurredthree times, and the common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3 were recorded inthe recording media 36.

Recording of a still image is also performed at the local camera 1 vside by the trigger signal TG transmitted at the time of recording ofthe common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3. That is to say, the local imagesVL1, VL3, and VL4 as still images are recorded at the timing in syncwith the respective common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3.

Thus, in the event of the present example, the user can executerecording of a moving-image picture during an arbitrary period of timeat the local camera 1 v, and also with the local camera 1 v, recordingof a still image is automatically executed by an instruction (triggersignal TG) from the common camera 2 s at an arbitrary time point ofduring recording or during recording standby.

That is to say, the user can obtain the local image VL as a still imagerecorded at an appropriate shutter opportunity while performingrecording by himself/herself, and also can be provided with the commonimage Vc corresponding to the local image VL thereof.

With this system made up of the local camera 1 v and the common camera 2s as well, various types of operations described with the above twelfththrough fourteenth embodiments can be also performed.

That is to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta dataMTDc are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG from the commoncamera 2 s, these are recorded at the local camera 1 v side so as tocorrespond to the local image VL, and the meta data MTDL generated atthe local camera 1 v side is recorded so as to correspond to the localimage VL as a still image or moving image.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the common camera2 s, the meta data MTDc is recorded so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc, also the recorded common image Vc as a still image and metadata MTDc are transmitted to the local camera 1 v side, and the commonimage Vc is recorded at the local camera 1 v side so as to correspond tothe local image VL.

3-7. Seventeenth Embodiment

The seventeenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 48and FIG. 49. This seventeenth embodiment is, as with the above sixteenthembodiment, the case of the common camera 2 s serving as a still camera,and the local camera 1 v serving as a video camera, and let us say thatthe configurations are the same as those in FIG. 45.

FIG. 48 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 v and thecommon camera 2 s. The processing of the common camera 2 s is processingat the time of being in a still-image recordable state. Also, theprocessing of the local camera 1 v is processing at the time of being ina standby state in which recording of a moving image can be performed.

The processing of the common control unit 30 is the same as that in theabove FIG. 46, which is illustrated with the same step numbers (F451,F452, and F453).

With the local camera 1 v, the picture of a subject image-captured bythe image capturing unit 13 is monitor-displayed at the display unit 17in a standby state prior to start of recording.

The local control unit 10 monitors the recording start operation of thevideo switch 22 in a standby state in step F351 a, and also monitorsreception of the trigger signal TG in step F352 a.

Upon detecting reception of the trigger signal TG in this standby state,the local control unit 10 executes recording of the local image VL as amoving image as to the recording media 19 in step F353 a. That is tosay, the local control unit 10 gives an instruction of recording of amoving image to the recording playback unit 15 and the image-capturingsignal processing unit 14 to start an operation for recording amoving-image picture of a subject in the recording media 19, with thereceived timing of the trigger signal TG as recording start timing.

Following starting recording of a moving image, the local control unit10 performs timekeeping. Subsequently, at a time point of a certainperiod of time elapsing, or at a time point of a stop operation beingdetected with the video switch 22 by the user, the processing proceedsfrom step F354 a to step F355 a, where the local control unit 10controls the recording playback unit 15 to stop recording of the movingimage.

In the event that the user performs the operation of the video switch 22in a standby state, the local control unit 10 gives an instruction forrecording a moving image as to the recording playback unit 15 and theimage-capturing signal processing unit 14 to start an operation forrecording a moving image of a subject in the recording media 19.

Following starting recording of a moving image in step F356 a, the localcontrol unit 10 monitors the recording stop operation by the videoswitch 22 in step F357 a.

Subsequently, in the event that the user performs the operation of thevideo switch 22, the local control unit 10 stops recording of the movingimage as step F358 a. That is to say, the local control unit 10 gives aninstruction for stopping recording of the moving image as to therecording playback unit 15 and the image-capturing signal processingunit 14 to end the operation for recording a moving image of a subjectin the recording media 19. Subsequently, the processing returns to themonitoring loop of steps F351 a and F352 a.

Note that during steps F356 a through F358 a reception of the triggersignal TG is invalidated.

According to this processing, recording of a moving image according toreception of the trigger signal TG is performed at the local camera 1 s.

FIG. 49 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1v and the common camera 2 s.

The user of the local camera 1 v performs a recording start operation ata certain time point, and also performs a recording stop operation at anarbitrary time point, and thus, the local image VL2 as a moving-imagepicture is recorded in the recording media 19 in the recording playbackunit 15 of the local camera 1 v.

With the common camera 2 s side, let us say that shutter timing occurredthree times, and the common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3 were recorded inthe recording media 36.

The trigger signal TG is transmitted from the common camera 2 s whenthese common images Vc1, Vc2, and Vc3 were recorded, and thus, recordingof a moving image is also performed at the local camera 1 v side. Forexample, the local image VL1 is recorded as a moving-image picture of acertain period of time by, for example, a trigger signal TG1 at the timeof the common image VL1 being recorded. Also, for example, the localimage VL3 serving as a moving-image picture of a certain period of timeby, for example, a trigger signal TG3 at the time of the common imageVc3 being recorded.

Note that in this case, if we say that the transmission timing of atrigger signal TG2 at the time of the common image Vc2 being recorded isduring recording of the local image VL2 at the local camera 1 v side,the processing corresponding to the trigger signal TG2 is not performedat the local camera 1 side.

Thus, in the event of the present example, the user can executerecording of a moving-image picture for an arbitrary period of time atthe local camera 1 v, and also recording of a moving image isautomatically executed by an instruction (trigger signal TG) from thecommon camera 2 s at an arbitrary time point during recording standby.

That is to say, the user can obtain the local image VL as a moving imagefor an appropriate period of time while performing recording byhimself/herself, and also can be provided with the common image Vc as astill image corresponding to the local image VL thereof.

Also, recording of a moving image is automatically performed at thelocal camera 1 v by the trigger signal TG, but recording thereof isstopped for a certain period of time or ended by the recording stopoperation by the user, thereby preventing use of camera by the user fromhindrance.

Note that in this case as well, various types of operations describedwith the above twelfth through fourteenth embodiments can be applied.

That is to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta dataMTDc are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG from the commoncamera 2 s, these are recorded at the local camera 1 v side so as tocorrespond to the local image VL as an moving image, and the meta dataMTDL generated at the local camera 1 v side is recorded so as tocorrespond to the local image VL as a moving image.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the common camera2 s, the meta data MTDc is recorded so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc, also the recorded common image Vc as a still image and metadata MTDc are transmitted to the local camera 1 v side, and the commonimage Vc as a still image is recorded at the local camera 1 v side so asto correspond to the local image VL as a moving image.

3-8. Eighteenth Embodiment

The eighteenth embodiment will be described, with reference to FIG. 50and FIG. 51.

Let us say that this eighteenth embodiment is an example in the casewherein both of the local camera 1 and the common camera 2 are videocameras for performing image capturing/recording of moving images.

The configuration of the local camera 1 v is the same as that in FIG.45, and the configuration of common camera 2 v is the same as that inFIG. 42.

FIG. 50 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 v and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing in steps F361 through F368 of thelocal camera 1 v is the same as steps F351 through F358 in FIG. 46.Also, the processing in steps F461 through F466 of the common camera 2 vis the same as steps F441 through F446 in FIG. 43.

Therefore, though detailed description will be avoided, recording of amoving image is executed during a period of time corresponding to theoperation of the video switch 22 by the user at the local camera 1 v,and also reception of the trigger signal TG is detected during recordingor during recording standby, thereby performing recording of a stillimage.

Also, the common camera 2 v transmits the trigger signal TG in responseto shutter timing while continuing recording of a moving image all thetime.

According to this processing, the user can execute recording of amoving-image picture during an arbitrary period of time at the localcamera 1 v, and also recording of a still image is performed at anappropriate shutter opportunity by the trigger signal from the commoncamera 2 v. Also, with the common camera 2 v, recording of a still imageis continuously performed.

FIG. 51 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1v and the common camera 2 v.

The user of the local camera 1 v performs a recording start operation ata certain time point, and also performs a recording stop operation at anarbitrary time point, and thus, the local image VL2 as a moving-imagepicture is recorded in the recording media 19 in the recording playbackunit 15 of the local camera 1 v.

The common camera 2 v side is continuously recording the common image Vcas a moving image. During this, if we say that shutter timing occurredthree times, and the trigger signals TG1, TG2, and TG3 were transmitted,in response to this, recording of a still image is performed at thelocal camera 1 s side, and the local images VL1, VL3, and VL4 arerecorded.

Thus, in the event of the present example, the user can executerecording of a moving-image picture during an arbitrary period of timeat the local camera 1 v, and also can obtain a still image at the timeof the shutter opportunity instructed from the common camera 2 v side atan arbitrary time point during recording or during recording standby.Further, in this case, recording of a moving image is continuouslyperformed at the common camera 2 v side, thereby enabling the commonimage as a moving image to be provided to the user side. For example, amoving image of the overall event, moving-image pictures before andafter of shutter timing, and so forth can be provided.

Note that in this case, various types of operations described with theabove twelfth through fourteenth embodiments can be also performed.

That is to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta dataMTDc are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG from the commoncamera 2 v, these are recorded at the local camera 1 v side so as tocorrespond to the local image VL as a still image, and the meta dataMTDL generated at the local camera 1 v side is recorded so as tocorrespond to the local image VL as a still image or moving image.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the common camera2 v, the meta data MTDc is recorded so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc to be recorded continuously, also the recorded common image Vc(the overall or a part of a moving image) and meta data MTDc aretransmitted to the local camera 1 v side, and the common image Vc as amoving image is recorded at the local camera 1 v side so as tocorrespond to the local image VL as a still image.

Also, description has been made wherein with the common camera 2 v, thetrigger signal TG is transmitted at the shutter timing determined by theshutter switch 40 or the shutter program 41, but the trigger signal TGmay be transmitted with the operation timing of the video switch 43 asshutter timing.

Further, an arrangement may be made wherein at the time of shuttertiming, not only transmission of the trigger signal TG is performed, butalso recording of the common image Vc as a still image is performed atthe recording playback unit 33.

3-9. Nineteenth Embodiment

The nineteenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 52and FIG. 53. This nineteenth embodiment is, as with the above eighteenthembodiment, a case wherein both of the local camera 1 and the commoncamera 2 are video cameras.

FIG. 52 illustrates the processing of the local camera 1 v and thecommon camera 2 v. The processing of the local camera 1 v and the commoncamera 2 v is the processing from the time of the local camera 1 v andthe common camera 2 v being in a standby state in which recording of amoving image can be performed.

The processing of the common control unit 30 is the same as that in theabove FIG. 50, which is illustrated with the same step numbers (F461through F466).

Steps F361 a through F368 a serving as the processing of the localcontrol unit 10 are the same as steps F351 a through F358 a in FIG. 48.That is to say, in the event of the trigger signal TG being received bythe reception unit 26, if the processing is in during recording standby,the local control unit 10 subjects the recording playback unit 15 andthe image-capturing signal processing unit 14 to moving-image recordingstart control with the trigger signal TG as recording start timing, andcontrols the recording playback unit 15 and the image-capturing signalprocessing unit 14 to record a moving-image picture of a subject in therecording media 19 until a certain period of time elapses or the userperforms a recording stop operation.

According to this processing, the user can execute recording of amoving-image picture during an arbitrary period of time at the localcamera 1 v, and also recording of a moving image according to aninstruction from the common camera 2 v side is performed.

FIG. 53 illustrates the recording states of images at the local camera 1v and the common camera 2 v.

The local image VL2 as a moving-image picture is recorded in therecording media 19 of the local camera 1 v according to the recordingstart operation and the recording stop operation of the user.

The common camera 2 v side is continuously recording the common image Vcas a moving image. During this, if we say that shutter timing occurredthree times, and the trigger signals TG1, TG2, and TG3 were transmitted,in response to this, recording of a moving image is performed at thelocal camera 1 v side. However, if we say that the trigger signal TG2 isreceived during recording of the local image VL2, this trigger signalTG2 is invalidated, and accordingly, in response to the trigger signalsTG1 and TG3, the local images VL1 and VL3 as moving images are recordedfor a certain period of time (or a period of time until the user stops).

Thus, in the event of the present example, the user can executerecording of a moving-image picture during an arbitrary period of timeat the local camera 1 v, and also can obtain a moving-image picturerecorded automatically since the time period instructed from the commoncamera 2 v side if during recording standby. Further, in this case,recording of a moving image is continuously performed at the commoncamera 2 v side, thereby enabling the common image as a moving image tobe provided to the user side.

Note that in this case, various types of operations described with theabove twelfth through fourteenth embodiments can be also conceived.

That is to say, an arrangement may be made wherein the ID and meta dataMTDc are transmitted along with the trigger signal TG from the commoncamera 2 v, these are recorded at the local camera 1 v side so as tocorrespond to the local image VL as a moving image, and the meta dataMTDL generated at the local camera 1 v side is recorded so as tocorrespond to the local image VL as a moving image.

Further, an arrangement can be conceived wherein with the common camera2 v, the meta data MTDc is recorded so as to correspond to the commonimage Vc recorded continuously, also the recorded common image Vc (theoverall or a part of a moving image) and meta data MTDc are transmittedto the local camera 1 v side, and the common image Vc as a moving imageis recorded at the local camera 1 v side so as to correspond to thelocal image VL as a moving image.

Also, with the common camera 2 v, the trigger signal TG may betransmitted with the operation timing of the video switch 43 as shuttertiming.

Further, an arrangement may be made wherein at the time of shuttertiming, not only transmission of the trigger signal TG is performed, butalso recording of the common image Vc as a still image is performed atthe recording playback unit 33.

3-10. Twentieth Embodiment

The twentieth embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 54. This is a casewherein the local camera 1 is assumed to be a silver-salt camera. Thecommon camera 2 is assumed to be a still camera.

A local camera 1 f includes a local control unit 10, a reception unit26, an antenna 12, a shutter switch 18, an image-capturing opticalsystem 23, and a mechanical system 24.

A shutter mechanism in the mechanical system 24 is driven and controlledby the local control unit 10 in response to the shutter switch 18,thereby performing shooting of a subject image as to a film 25.

In addition to the configuration as a normal silver-salt camera, thislocal camera 1 f includes a trigger reception function wherein the localcontrol unit 10 controls the mechanical system 24 to execute photoshooting in response to the operation of the shutter switch 18, and alsocontrols the mechanical system 24 to execute photo shooting in responseto reception of the trigger signal TG being detected by the receptionunit 26.

The processing of the local control unit 10 is the same as steps F301through F303 in FIG. 31, and the processing of the common control unit30 is the same as steps F401 through F403 in FIG. 31.

According to this twentieth embodiment, the user can perform arbitraryphoto shooting using a silver-salt camera, and also can obtain ashooting photo at the shutter opportunity instructed by the commoncamera 2 s side. Also, the common image Vc is recorded at the commoncamera 2 s in sync with the shooting thereof, and accordingly, the usercan obtain image data relating to a photo captured by himself/herself byobtaining the common image Vc later.

Note that the local camera 1 f may perform the operations of the twelfthand thirteenth embodiments, i.e., reception of an ID and meta data.Subsequently, in this case, meta data MTDc and an ID, and the content ofthe meta data MTDL generated at the local camera 1 f side may berecorded on the edge of the film 25 or the like to associate the photoand the meta data and the like.

Also, a system in which the common camera 2 is assumed to be a videocamera can be conceived.

3-11. Standby Instruction to be Applied to Eleventh Through TwentiethEmbodiments

Though described with the eleventh embodiment, in the cases of theeleventh through twentieth embodiments, if we consider a case whereinthe user arbitrarily possesses the local camera 1, a case wherein thelocal camera 1 is not directed toward a subject at the time of receptionof the trigger signal can be conceived. It is needless to say that insuch a case, it is difficult to record an appropriate image.

Therefore, processing, which can be additionally applied to the elevenththrough twentieth embodiments, will be described with reference to FIG.55.

The processing of the common camera 2 in FIG. 55 is processing, whichcan be combined with the processing of the common control unit 30described with the above respective embodiments, as processing fortransmitting the trigger signal TG.

The common control unit 30 waits for standby timing in step F20. Theterm “standby timing” is before required time from shutter timing, e.g.,before several seconds through several tens of seconds, or may be beforeone second or more.

In the event that shutter timing is determined by the shutter program41, the shutter program 41 may determine standby timing. Alternately, inthe event that shutter timing is assumed to be the operating time pointof the shutter switch 40 by the staff, a standby switch is additionallyprepared, and the staff operates the standby switch before pressing theshutter switch 40. In this case, the operating time point of the standbyswitch becomes standby timing.

Upon reaching the standby timing, the processing of the common controlunit 30 proceeds from step F20 to step F21, where the common controlunit 30 controls the transmission unit 39 to transmit a standbyinstruction signal.

Subsequently, the common control unit 30 waits for shutter timing instep F22, and upon reaching the shutter timing, controls thetransmission unit 39 to transmit the trigger signal TG in step F23.

In response to such processing, the local control unit 10 of the localcamera 1 performs the processing in steps F10 through F13.

That is to say, in step F10 reception of a standby instruction signal ismonitored, and upon a standby instruction signal being received, standbyprocessing is performed in step F11.

In this case, the term “standby processing” is processing within theequipment of the local camera 1, and also includes notificationprocessing as to the user in the event of a user possessing cameraequipment.

First, the local control unit 10 performs power-on control if the powerstatus of the local camera 1 is off. Subsequently, the local controlunit 10 sets the local camera 1 to the standby mode. That is to say, thelocal control unit 10 sets the respective units of the equipment to astate in which recording of the local image VL can be performed inresponse to reception of the trigger signal TG.

Also, though not illustrated in the configurations of the respectiveembodiments, an audio output unit is provided within the local camera 1.Subsequently, the local control unit 10 controls the audio output unitto output, for example, electronic sound or message voice or the like toinform the user that reception of the trigger signal TG is approaching.That is to say, this informs the user that automatic recording is to bestarted soon. Of course, an arrangement may be made wherein the user isinformed with electronic sound and message display, or a technique forusing a vibrator and message display together may be employed.

According to this standby processing, the local camera 1 internallybecomes a state in which image capturing/recording can be performed, andalso prompts the user to direct the local camera 1 toward a subject.

Subsequently, the trigger signal TG is transmitted from the commoncamera 2, and in response to reception thereof, the processing proceedsfrom step F12 to step F13, where the local control unit 10 executesrecording of the local image VL.

Thus, transmission of the standby instruction signal, and the standbyprocessing in response to the standby instruction signal are performed,whereby recording of the local image VL at the local camera 1 can beperformed appropriately at the timing corresponding to the triggersignal TG from the common camera 2.

Note that as for the standby processing, there are variations, forexample, in the event that the local camera 1 is fixedly installed, andalways faces a subject side, there is no need to perform the above usernotification processing. Also, with the user notification processing,for example, countdown may be performed using display or audio untilreception of the trigger signal.

3-12. System Pattern Examples of Local Cameras and Common Cameras

So far, description has been made regarding cases wherein the localcamera 1 is the first image capturing device referred by the claims ofthe present invention, and the common camera 2 is the second imagecapturing device as the eleventh through twentieth embodiments.

The pattern examples of the system configuration according to thesecases can be conceived variedly in the same as the cases of FIG. 27,FIG. 28, and FIG. 29.

That is to say, in addition to a system made up of the one common camera2 and the one local camera 1, a system made up of the one common camera2 and the multiple local cameras 1 can be conceived, and in this case,resulting in a system wherein the local image VL is recorded at themultiple local cameras 1 in response to the trigger signal TG by the onecommon camera 2, and synchronous multiple image capturing is performed.

Alternately, a system made up of the multiple common cameras 2 and theone local camera, or a system example made up of the multiple commoncameras 2 and the multiple local cameras 1 can be conceived. With eachof the above systems, it is necessary to perform system settingsdepending on a situation such as services to be implemented, an event,facilities, and so forth.

4. Modifications

As described above, the image capturing systems according to theembodiments have been described, but further various types ofmodifications can be conceived as the present invention.

For example, a system can be conceived wherein both of the above localcamera 1 and common camera 2 become the second image capturing devicereferred by the claims of the present invention, and another equipmentfor performing transmission of the trigger signal TG is provided.

Also, there is a case wherein both of the above local camera 1 andcommon camera 2 become the first and second image capturing devicesreferred by the claims of the present invention. That is to say, in thiscase, the trigger signal TG is mutually transmitted or received betweenboth cameras. For example, the local camera 1 performs recording of thelocal image VL and transmission of the trigger signal TG in response tothe shutter operation by the user, and the common camera 2 performsrecording of the common image Vc in response to reception of the triggersignal TG. On the other hand, the common camera 2 performs recording ofthe common image Vc when reaching shutter timing, and also performingtransmission of the trigger signal TG, and the local camera 1 performsrecording of the local image VL in response to reception of the triggersignal TG. Thus, an example can be conceived wherein both mutuallyfunctions as the first and second image capturing devices.

Also, description has not been made regarding audio recording, but forexample, it can be naturally conceived that audio is recorded along withrecording of the local image VL and common image Vc as a moving image orstill image.

Further, with the above respective embodiments, description has beenmade wherein the second image capturing device side is assumed toperform recording of an image-captured image in response to a triggersignal basically, but it is not always necessary to perform recordingwithin the second image capturing device. Also, an example can beconceived with the second image capturing device, image capturing isperformed in response to a trigger signal, the image-captured imagethereof is transmitted by wireless or cable, and the image-capturedimage is recorded in a recording medium at another recording equipment.Also, in this case, as for processing at the local camera 1 sidecorresponding to a standby instruction described with FIG. 55, it isnecessary to perform processing wherein standby for image capturing isperformed in step F11, and image capturing and transmission of animage-captured image to an external recording equipment are performed instep F13.

Further, an example can be conceived wherein with the second imagecapturing device, image capturing is performed in response to a triggersignal, and the result thereof is not recorded but displayed.

Also, the image capturing system according to the present invention canbe effectively applied to various venues and situations, such asgatherings like athletic meets, recitals, and so forth, various placessuch as concerts, events, theme parks, at the sea, mountains, othersightseeing locations, and so forth.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. An image-capturing device comprising:image-capturing recording means for performing image-capturing to recordan image; transmission means for transmitting a trigger signal forinstructing recording of an image-captured image as to an externaldevice; and control means for controlling recording of an image-capturedimage at said image-capturing recording means, and transmission of atrigger signal from said transmission means.
 18. The image-capturingdevice according to claim 17, further comprising identifying informationstoring means for storing apparatus identifying information; whereinsaid control means control said transmission means to transmit theapparatus identifying information stored in said identifying informationstoring means along with said trigger signal.
 19. The image-capturingdevice according to claim 17, further comprising meta-data generatingmeans for generating meta-data; wherein said control means control saidtransmission means to transmit the meta-data generated in said meta-datagenerating means along with said trigger signal.
 20. The image-capturingdevice according to claim 17, wherein said control means control saidimage-capturing means to record an image-captured image, and controlsaid transmission means to transmit a trigger signal, following whichcontrol said transmission means to transmit the image-captured imagerecorded in said image-capturing recording means.
 21. Theimage-capturing device according to claim 17, further comprisingmeta-data generating means for generating meta-data; wherein saidcontrol means control, when controlling said image-capturing recordingmeans to execute recording of an image-captured image, saidimage-capturing recording means to execute recording of the meta-datagenerated at said meta-data generating means by associating themeta-data with image-captured image thereof; and wherein said controlmeans control said transmission means to transmit the image-capturedimage stored in said image-capturing recording means, and the meta-datarecorded by being associated with image-captured image thereof .
 22. Theimage-capturing device according to claim 17, wherein saidimage-capturing recording means are configured so as to recordimage-captured images as still images; and wherein said control meanscontrol said image-capturing recording means to perform still-imagerecording of an image-captured image, and control said transmissionmeans to transmit a trigger signal, with the timing specified by anoperation or operation program.
 23. The image-capturing device accordingto claim 17, wherein said image-capturing recording means are configuredso as to record image-captured images as moving images; wherein saidcontrol means control said image-capturing recording means to executemoving-image recording of an image-captured image during the periodspecified by a first operation, and also control said transmission meansto execute transmission of a trigger signal with the timing specified bya second operation or an operation program.
 24. The image-capturingdevice according to claim 17, wherein said image-capturing recordingmeans are configured so as to record image-captured images as moving andstill images; wherein said control means control said image-capturingrecording means to execute moving-image recording of an image-capturedimage during the period specified by a first operation, and also controlsaid image-capturing recording means to perform still-image recording ofan image-captured image, and said transmission means to executetransmission of a trigger signal, with the timing specified by a secondoperation or an operation program.
 25. The image-capturing deviceaccording to claim 19, wherein said meta-data includes anyone ofpoint-in-time information, positional information, and recording addressinformation.
 26. The image-capturing device according to claim 17,wherein said image-capturing recording means are configured so as torecord an image-captured image signal in a recording medium.
 27. Theimage-capturing device according to claim 17, wherein saidimage-capturing recording means are configured so as to record subjectlight as an image-captured image on a silver-salt film.
 28. Theimage-capturing device according to claim 17, wherein said first controlmeans transmit a standby instruction for instructing an external deviceto perform preparation for recording an image-captured image prior totransmitting a trigger signal from said transmission means.
 29. Animage-capturing device comprising: image-capturing recording means forperforming image-capturing to record an image; reception means forreceiving a trigger signal to be transmitted from an external device;and control means for controlling said image-capturing recording meansto execute at least recording of an image-captured image in response toreceiving a trigger signal at said reception means.
 30. Theimage-capturing device according to claim 29, wherein said control meanscontrol, when controlling said image-capturing recording means toexecute recording of an image-captured image based on a trigger signalreceived at said reception means, control said image-capturing recordingmeans to execute recording of the apparatus identifying informationwhich was transmitted from an external device, and received at saidreception means along with image-captured image thereof.
 31. Theimage-capturing device according to claim 29, wherein said control meanscontrol, when controlling said image-capturing recording means toexecute recording of an image-captured image based on a trigger signalreceived at said reception means, control said image-capturing recordingmeans to execute recording of the meta-data which was transmitted froman external device, and received at said reception means along withimage-captured image thereof.
 32. The image-capturing device accordingto claim 29, further comprising meta-data generating means forgenerating meta-data; wherein said control means control, whencontrolling said image-capturing recording means to execute recording ofan image-captured image based on a trigger signal received at saidreception means, control said image-capturing recording means to executerecording of the meta-data generated at said meta-data generating meansalong with image-captured image thereof.
 33. The image-capturing deviceaccording to claim 29, wherein said control means control saidimage-capturing recording means to record the image-captured imagetransmitted from said external device, and received at said receptionmeans.
 34. The image-capturing device according to claim 29, furthercomprising meta-data generating means for generating meta-data; whereinsaid control means, when controlling said image-capturing recordingmeans to execute recording of an image-captured image, control saidimage-capturing recording means to execute recording of the meta-datagenerated at said meta-data generating means by associating themeta-data with image-captured image thereof; and wherein said controlmeans, when said reception means receive the image-captured image andmeta-data transmitted from said external device, collate the meta-datareceived along with the image-captured image with the meta-data recordedat said image-capturing recording means, and control saidimage-capturing recording means to record the image-captured imagereceived at said reception means so as to be associated with theparticular image-captured image recorded in said image-capturingrecording means.
 35. The image-capturing device according to claim 29,wherein said image-capturing recording means are configured so as torecord image-captured images as still images; wherein said controlmeans, in response to receiving a trigger signal at said receptionmeans, control said image-capturing recording means to executestill-image recording of an image-captured image.
 36. Theimage-capturing device according to claim 29, wherein saidimage-capturing recording means are configured so as to recordimage-captured images as moving images; wherein said control means, inresponse to receiving a trigger signal at said reception means, controlsaid image-capturing recording means to execute moving-image recordingof an image-captured image.
 37. The image-capturing device according toclaim 29, wherein said image-capturing recording means are configured soas to record image-captured images as still and moving images; whereinsaid control means control said image-capturing recording means toexecute moving-image recording of an image-captured image during theperiod specified by an operation, and also in response to receiving atrigger signal at said reception means, control said image-capturingrecording means to execute still-image recording of an image-capturedimage.
 38. The image-capturing device according to claim 32, whereinsaid meta-data includes anyone of point-in-time information, positionalinformation, and recording address information.
 39. The image-capturingdevice according to claim 29, wherein said image-capturing recordingmeans are configured so as to record an image-captured image signal in arecording medium.
 40. The image-capturing device according to claim 29,wherein said image-capturing recording means are configured so as torecord subject light as an image-captured image on a silver-salt film.41. The image-capturing device according to claim 29, wherein saidcontrol means control said image-capturing recording means to stand byin a recordable state in response to receiving a standby instructiontransmitted from said external device at said reception means.
 42. Animage-capturing method of an image-capturing device for recording stillimages or moving images as the image-captured images of a subject,comprising: an image-capturing step for executing image-capturing orrecording of an image-captured image with the timing specified by anoperation or operation program; and a trigger transmitting step fortransmitting a trigger signal for instructing image-capturing orrecording of an image-captured image to an external device with saidtiming.
 43. The image-capturing method according to claim 42, wherein insaid trigger transmitting step, the apparatus identifying information ofsaid image-capturing device is transmitted along with said triggersignal.
 44. The image-capturing method according to claim 42, wherein insaid trigger transmitting step, the meta-data generated at saidimage-capturing device is transmitted along with said trigger signal.45. The image-capturing method according to claim 42, furthercomprising: an image transmitting step for transmitting theimage-captured image recorded in said image-capturing recording step.46. The image-capturing method according to claim 42, wherein in saidimage-capturing recording step, recording of the meta-data generated atsaid image-capturing device is performed so as to associate themeta-data with an image-captured image; and wherein said method furthercomprises an image transmitting step for transmitting the image-capturedimage-recorded in said image-capturing recording step.
 47. Theimage-capturing method according to claim 42, further comprising: astandby instruction transmitting step for transmitting a standbyinstruction for instructing preparation for recording of animage-captured image as to an external device prior to said timing forexecuting said image-capturing recording step and said triggertransmitting step.
 48. An image-capturing method of an image-capturingdevice for recording still images or moving images as the image-capturedimages of a subject, comprising: a trigger receiving step for receivinga trigger signal transmitted from an external device; and animage-capturing recording step for executing image-capturing orrecording of an image-captured image in response to receiving a triggersignal in said receiving step.
 49. The image-capturing method accordingto claim 48, wherein in said receiving step, the apparatus identifyinginformation transmitted from said external device is received along witha trigger signal; and wherein in said image-capturing recording step,the received apparatus identifying information is recorded along with animage-captured image.
 50. The image-capturing method according to claim48, wherein in said receiving step, the meta-data transmitted from saidexternal device is received along with a trigger signal; and wherein insaid image-capturing recording step, the received meta-data is recordedalong with an image-captured image.
 51. The image-capturing methodaccording to claim 48, wherein in said image-capturing recording step,recording of the meta-data generated at said image-capturing device isexecuted so as to be associated with an image-captured image.
 52. Theimage-capturing method according to claim 48, further comprising: animage receiving step for receiving an image-captured image to betransmitted from said external device; and a receiving image recordingstep for recording the image-captured image received in said imagereceiving step.
 53. The image-capturing method according to claim 48,wherein in said image-capturing recording step, recording of themeta-data generated at said image-capturing device is executed so as tobe associated with an image-captured image, and said method also furthercomprising: an image receiving step for receiving the image-capturedimage and meta-data to be transmitted from said external device; acollating step for collating the meta-data received in saidimage-receiving step with the meta-data recorded in said image-capturingrecording step; and a received-image recording step for recording theimage-captured image received in said receiving step so as to beassociated with the particular image-captured image recorded in saidimage-capturing recording step based on the collation result in saidcollating step.
 54. The image-capturing method according to claim 48,further comprising: a standby-instruction receiving step for receiving astandby instruction to be transmitted from said external device; and animage-capturing recording preparation step for performingimage-capturing preparation or recording preparation of animage-captured image in response to receiving said standby instruction.55. The image-capturing device according to claim 21, wherein saidmeta-data includes anyone of point-in-time information, positionalinformation, and recording address information.
 56. The image-capturingdevice according to claim 34, wherein said meta-data includes anyone ofpoint-in-time information, positional information, and recording addressinformation.